“Pray you, tell me of your grace, wherefore in your goodly discourses you make at all no mention of our Lady?”
The Friar sat down on the steps, when he was asked that question.
“What wouldst thou have me for to say of her?”
“Nay, Father!” returned Agnes, humbly. “You be a learned priest, and I but an ignorant maiden; but having alway heard them that did preach sermons to make much of our Lady, methought I would fain wit, an’ I might ask it at you, wherefore you make thus little.”
“My child!” answered the Friar quietly, “who died on the rood for thee?”
“Jesus Christ our Lord,” responded Agnes readily.
“What! not Saint Mary?”
“Certes, nay, Father, as methinks.”
“And who is it that pleadeth with God for thee?”
“You have told me, Father, our Lord Christ is He. Yet the folk say alway, that our Lady doth entreat our Lord for to hear our prayers.”