He considered that in silence for a brief, cautious while.“I came late to it, and it may be that my fire burnedsomewhat dully,” he said honestly at length, “but itgave light enough to show me the road to what I wanted. I wasrunning towards, not away.”

She looked him full in the face with her daunting, direct eyes,and said with abrupt, bleak deliberation: “Have you neverthought, Brother Cadfael, that a woman may have more cause to runaway than ever you had? More perils to run from, and feweralternatives than flight?”

“That is truth,” admitted Cadfael, stirringvigorously. “But you, as I know, are better placed than manyto hold your own, as well as having more courage than a good manyof us men. You are your own mistress, your kin depend on you, andnot you on them. There is no overlord to claim the right to orderyour future, no one can force you into another marriage—yes,I have heard there are many would be only too pleased if theycould, but they have no power over you. No father living, no elderkinsman to influence you. No matter how men may pester you oraffairs weary you, you know you are more than equal to them. And asfor what you have lost,” he said, after a moment’shesitation as to whether he should tread so near, “it is lostonly to this world. Waiting is not easy, but no harder, believe me,among the vexations and distractions of the world than in thesolitude and silence of the cloister. I have seen men make thatmistake, for as reasonable cause, and suffer all the more with thedouble deprivation. Do not you take that risk. Never unless you aresure of what you want, and want it with all your heart andsoul.”

It was as much as he dared say, as much as and perhaps more thanhe had any right to say. She heard him out without turning her eyesaway. He felt their clear stare heavy upon him all the time he wassmoothing his ointment into its jar for her, and tying down the lidof the pot for safe carriage.

“Sister Magdalen, from the Benedictine cell at