" Mistress Margaret lifted her great eyes and looked at Mary
tenderly and penetratingly.
"And this is one of your books?" she asked.
"Yes, my dear. I was allowed at least to take it away with me. My sister
here is very fond of it."
Mary opened it again, and began to turn the pages.
"Is it all in your handwriting, Mistress Torridon?"
"Yes, my child; I continued writing in it ever since I first entered
religion in 1534; so you see the handwriting changes a little," and she
smiled to herself.
"Oh, but this is charming," cried Mary, intent on the book.
"Read it, my dear, aloud."
Mary read:
"Let me not rest, O Lord, nor have quiet,
But fill my soul with spiritual travail,
To sing and say, O mercy, Jesu sweet;
Thou my protection art in the battail.
Set thou aside all other apparail;
Let me in thee feel all my affiance.
Treasure of treasures, thou dost most avail.
Grant ere I die shrift, pardon, repentance."
Her voice trembled a little and ceased.
"That is from some verses of Dan John Lydgate, I think," said Mistress
Margaret.
"Here is another," said Mary in a moment or two.
"Jesu, at thy will, I pray that I may be,
All my heart fulfil with perfect love to thee:
That I have done ill, Jesu forgive thou me:
And suffer me never to spill, Jesu for thy pity."
"The nuns of Hampole gave me that," said Mistress Margaret. "It is by
Richard Rolle, the hermit."
"Tell me a little," said Mary Corbet, suddenly laying down the book,
"about the nunnery.
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