Perhaps at that moment she came near to realising something of what both gifts had cost the Bishop.
Bending her head, she looked across the courtyard and under the gateway.

The messengers were riding fast.

Even as she looked, they disappeared into the pine wood.
Her letter to Symon was well on its way.

She remembered with comfort and gladness certain things she had written in that letter.
Then--as the pine wood swallowed the messengers--with a joyous bound of reaction her whole mind turned to Hugh.
Three steps below her, a page waited, holding a dagger which she had been wont to wear, when riding in the forests.

She had sent it out to be sharpened.