'Woman, thou art more righteous than we!' cried the monk, with deep emotion; and, covering his head with his cowl, he departed, weeping audibly.
CHAPTER XI.
The infant was still slumbering upon Katharine's bosom. The door was again thrown open and the captain entered, this time without attendants, bolting the door after him.
'The hour is past,' said he with a demoniac smile. 'Have you a certificate?'
'No,' answered she, and at that moment the child in her arms awoke and cried for its nourishment. 'Poor thing,' said she, bearing it towards an alcove.
'Where are you going?' asked the captain, seizing her arm as though he would crush it in his ferocious grasp.
'To nurse my child,' answered Katharine. 'You cannot wish that I should do it in the presence of a stranger!'
'You shall not nurse your child!' cried the captain, forcing it from her arms. 'It shall not imbibe heresy with its mother's milk.'
'What would you with my child, horrible man?' shrieked Katharine, rushing upon him.
'There it shall lie,' said he, putting it upon the floor.