The entrance he had to guard from within, was out of sight of the altar.

To all intents and purposes, the two who still stood motionless in the shadow, were now alone.
Then the Knight turned to the Prioress, took her right hand with his left, and led her forward to the altar.
There he loosed her hand as they knelt side by side; he clasping his upon the crossed hilt of his sword; she crossing hers upon her breast.
Presently the Prioress drew the marriage ring from the third finger of her left hand, and gave it to the Knight.
Divining her desire, he rose, laid the ring upon the altar, then knelt again.
Then rising, he took the ring, kissed it reverently, and slipped it upon the little finger of his own left hand.
The sad eyes of the Prioress, watching him, said to this neither "yea" nor "nay." Rising she waited meekly to know his will for her.

The Knight, the blue cloak over his arm, turned to the stretcher, picked up the bandages, then, spoke, very low, without looking at the Prioress.
"Lay thyself down thereon," he said.

"I grieve to ask it of thee, Mora; but there is no other way of taking thee hence, unobserved." The Prioress took two steps forward, and stood beside the stretcher.
It was many years since she had lain in any human presence.

Standing, walking, sitting, kneeling, she had been seen by the nuns; but lying--never.
Though her cross of office and sacred ring were gone, her dignity and authority seemed still to belong to her while she stood, stately and tall, upon her feet.
She hesitated.