failings, with the mortal penitence due to deadly sins. A curiousthing, that so over-conscientious a youth should be paying solittle heed to the holy office. His chin was on his shoulder, hislips still, forgetting the words of the psalm. He was gazing, infact, precisely where Cadfael had been gazing only moments earlier.But from Eluric’s stall there would be more of her to see,Cadfael reflected, the averted face, the linked hands, the folds oflinen over her breast.

The contemplation, it seemed, gave him no joy, but only abrittle, quivering tension, taut as a drawn bow. When herecollected himself and tore his gaze away, it was with a wrenchthat shook him from head to foot.

Well, well! said Cadfael to himself, enlightened. And in eightdays more he has to carry the rose rent to her. That task theyshould have allotted to some old hardened sinner like me, who wouldview and enjoy, and return untroubled and untroubling, not thisvulnerable boy who surely can never else have been alone in a roomwith a woman since his mother let him be taken out of her arms. Anda pity she ever did!

And this poor girl, the very image to wring him most painfully,grave, sad, with a piteous past and yet composed and calm like theBlessed Virgin herself. And he coming to her bearing a white rose,their hands perhaps touching as he delivers it. And now I recallthat Anselm says he’s something of a poet. Well, what follieswe commit without evil intent!

It was far too late now to devote his mind to its properbusiness of prayer and praise. He contented himself with hopingthat by the time the brothers emerged from the choir after servicethe lady would be gone.

By the mercy of God, she was.

But she was gone, it seemed, no further thanCadfael’s workshop in the herb-garden, where he found herwaiting patiently outside the open door when he came to decant thelotion he had left cooling before Mass. Her brow was smooth and hervoice mild, and everything about her practical and sensible. Thefire that burned Eluric was unknown to her. At Cadfael’sinvitation she followed him in, under the gently swaying bunches ofherbs that rustled overhead from the beams.