Beatrice stood beside her erect, asleep, motionless, her dark face just outlined in the surrounding dusk.
Unorna took her hand and led her forwards.

She could see now, and the moment had come.

She brought Beatrice before the high altar and made her stand in front of it.

Then she herself went back and groped for something in the dark.

It was the pair of small wooden steps upon which the priest mounts in order to open the golden door of the high tabernacle above the altar, when it is necessary to take therefrom the Sacred Host for the Benediction, or other consecrated wafers for the administration of the Communion.