"Yes, my daughter?
But ?" "But if our blessed Lady herself vouchsafed me a clear sign that my first duty is to Hugh, if she absolved me from my vows, making it evident that God's will for me is that, leaving the Cloister, I should wed Hugh and dwell with him in his home; then I would strive to bring myself to do this thing.

But I can take release from none save from our Lord, to Whom those vows were made, or from our Lady, who knoweth the heart of a woman, and whose grace hath been with me all through the strivings and conflicts of the years that are past." The Bishop sighed.

"Alas," he said; "alas, poor Hugh!" For that our Lady should vouchsafe a clear sign, would have to be a miracle; and, though he would not have admitted it to the Prioress, the Bishop believed, in his secret heart, that the age of miracles was past.
One so fixed in her determination, so persistent in her assertion, so loud in her asseveration, would scarce be likely to hear the inward whisperings of Divine suggestion.
Therefore, should our Lady intervene with clear guidance, that intervention must be miraculous.

And the Bishop sighing, said: "Alas, poor Hugh!" His eye fell upon the fragments of rent vellum on the floor.

He held out his hand.
The Prioress gathered up the fragments, and placed them in the Bishop's outstretched hand.
"Alas, my lord," she said, "you were witness of my grievous sin in thus rending the gracious message of His Holiness.