"We of the Church, who know the value of these early hours, let us break our fast together." "Is it magic, my lord ?" she asked, suddenly conscious of unmistakable hunger.
"Nay," said the Bishop, "but I was out a full hour ago.

And the dairy wench was up before me.

So between us we contrived this simple repast." So, while the bridegroom and old Deborah still slumbered and slept, the bride and the Bishop broke their fast together in a bower of roses; and his eyes were the eyes of a merry schoolboy out on a holiday; and the colour came back to her cheeks and she smiled and grew light-hearted, as always in their long friendship, when he came to her in this gay mood.
Yet, presently, when she had eaten well, and seemed strengthened and refreshed, the Bishop leaned back in his seat, saying with sudden gravity: "And now, my daughter, will you tell me how it has come to pass that you have been led to feel it right to take this irrevocable step, renouncing your vows, and keeping your troth to Hugh?
When last we spoke together you declared that naught would suffice but a clear sign, vouchsafed you from our Lady herself, making it plain that your highest duty was to Hugh, and that Heaven absolved you from your vows.

Was such a sign vouchsafed ?" "Indeed it was, my lord, in wondrous fashion, our Lady choosing as the mouthpiece of her will, by means of a most explicit and unmistakable revelation, one so humble and so simple, that I could but exclaim: 'Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.'" "And who," asked the Bishop, his eyes upon a peach which he was peeling with extreme care; "who, my daughter, was the babe ?" "The old lay-sister, Mary Antony." "Ah," murmured the Bishop, "an ancient babe.

Yet truly, a most worthy babe.