The house of the five sisters stood where it did, and the same trees cast their pleasant shade upon the orchard grass.

The sisters too were there, and lovely as at first, but a change had come over their dwelling.

Sometimes, there was the clash of armour, and the gleaming of the moon on caps of steel; and, at others, jaded coursers were spurred up to the gate, and a female form glided hurriedly forth, as if eager to demand tidings of the weary messenger.

A goodly train of knights and ladies lodged one night within the abbey walls, and next day rode away, with two of the fair sisters among them.

Then, horsemen began to come less frequently, and seemed to bring bad tidings when they did, and at length they ceased to come at all, and footsore peasants slunk to the gate after sunset, and did their errand there, by stealth.