She looked up at her visitors, and greeted Cadfael in a lowvoice that had lost none of its quality. “Brother Cadfael,this is a pleasure! I’ve hardly seen you through the winter.I should not have liked to leave without yourvalediction,”

“You could have sent for me,” he said, and went toset a stool by her bedside. “I am biddable. And Radulfuswould not refuse you.”

“He came himself,” said Donata, “to take myconfession at Christmas. I am an adopted ewe of his flock. He doesnot forget me.”

“And how do your affairs stand?” he asked, studyingthe serenity of her face. There was never need to go round-aboutwith Donata, she understood him as he meant, and preferred itso.

“In the matter of life and death,” she said,“excellently well. In the matter of pain… I have gonebeyond pain, there is not enough of me to feel it, or regard it ifit could make itself felt. I take that as the sign I’velooked for.” She spoke without apprehension or regret, oreven impatience now, perfectly content to wait the short whilelonger. And she lifted her dark eyes to the young man standingapart.

“And who is this you have brought to see me? A new acolyteof yours in the herb-garden?”

Tutilo came nearer, rightly interpreting this as an invitation.His eyes were large and round, beholding her condition, youth andabundant life confronted with death, but he did not seem at alldismayed, nor pitying. Donata did not invite pity. The boy was veryquick and accurate of apprehension.

“Not mine,” said Cadfael, measuring the slightfigure consideringly, and warily approving a bright pupil hecertainly would not have refused. “No, this young brother iscome with his sub-prior from the abbey of Ramsey. Abbot Walter isback in his monastery, and calling home all the brothers to thework of rebuilding, for Geoffrey de Mandeville and his brigandshave left an empty shell. And to let you know the whole of it,Sub-Prior Herluin is in the solar this moment, trying what he cando with Sulien.”