THE CHRONICLE OF CLEMENDY
screen for the quire when the marriage was concluded. The which hit Father Ambrosius in the soft place, for he was zealous for the good of the community: but yet when he heard the name of Torlesse he looked grave and explained to his nephew that this man was indeed a crusty customer, who was suspected of heresy by the church, but lived in peace by making large oblations to the parson and the prior. "Leave all that to me," answered the young knight, "but tell me who shall shrive Mistress Torlesse to-day?" "Father Andrew" answered the Canon. "And is he not a man somewhat resembling myself in figure?" "Yea, but stoops exceedingly and shambles in his walk." "That is well, and with your favour and his, I will take his place and inspect the conscience of the fair penitent, and prescribe a penance for her, better than any in Father Andrew's brain." To be short Sir Philip got on the blind side of Father Andrew and obtained the loan of his habit, and at the appointed time for hearing confessions, shambled with his eyes bent on the ground into what is now called the Herbert Chapel, and there awaited his mistress, with the cowl drawn over his head, and his hands on his knees, in the shriving pew. Thither also came the girl, pale and trembling between joy and fear, for her heart had been beating terribly all the way, and at every step she looked for her lover; and, to be sure, she had dreamt of nothing else all through the night, in her little chamber of the lattice. And having left her governess kneeling in the church, she came slowly and totteringly to the chapel,
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