Then all thought of self was merged in the realisation of his loneliness, his suffering, his bitter disillusion.

To have found her dead, would have been hard; to have lost her living, was almost past bearing.

Would it cost him his faith in God, in truth, in purity, in honour?
The Prioress felt the insistent need of prayer.

But passing the gracious image of the Virgin and Child, she cast herself down at the foot of the crucifix.
She had seen a strong man in agony, nailed, by the cruel iron of circumstance, to the cross-beams of sacrifice and surrender.

To the suffering Saviour she turned, instinctively, for help and consolation.
Thus speedily had her prayer of the previous night been granted.