Brother Jerome appeared at chapter next morning with an exalted countenance,and the air of one bursting with momentous news. At Abbot Heribert’s mildreproof for leaving his patient without permission, he folded his hands meeklyand bowed his head, but lost none of his rapt assurance.

“Father, I am sent here by another duty, that seemed to me even moreurgent. I have left Brother Columbanus sleeping, though not peacefully, foreven his sleep is tormented. But two lay-brothers are watching by him. If Ihave done wrong, I will abide it humbly.”

“Our brother is no better?” asked the abbot anxiously.

“He is still deeply troubled, and when he wakes he raves.

But, Father, this is my errand! There is a sure hope for him! In the night Ihave been miraculously visited. I have come to tell you what divine mercy hasinstructed me. Father, in the small hours I fell into a doze beside BrotherColumbanus’ bed, and had a marvellously sweet dream.”

By this time he had everyone’s attention, even Brother Cadfael waswide awake. “What, another of them?” whispered Brother Johnwickedly into his ear. “The plague’s spreading!”

“Father, it seemed to me that the wall of the room opened, and a greatlight shone in, and through the light and radiating the light there came in amost beautiful young virgin, and stood beside our brother’s bed, and spoketo me. She told me that her name was Winifred, and that in Wales there is aholy spring, that rose to the light where she suffered martyrdom. And she saidthat if Brother Columbanus bathed in the water of that well, he would surely behealed, and restored at once to his senses. Then she uttered a blessing uponour house, and vanished in a great light, and I awoke.”