Sir Godfrey, who was sauntering under the trees in the garden, stopped and looked at her. Had he spoken out his thoughts, he would have said, “What on earth does this bothering old woman want?” As it was, he stood silent, and waited for her to proceed.
“Sir, my Lady is full sick.”
“Well! let Father Jordan see her.”
“He hath seen her, Sir, and full little can he do.”
“What would you? No outer physician can be called in.”
“Ah, Sir, forgive me, but I am thinking rather of the soul than the body: it is the worser of the twain.”
“Verily, I guess not how, for she should be hard put to it to commit mortal sin, when mewed for eight years in one chamber. Howbeit, if so be, what then? Is not Father Jordan a priest? One priest is full as good as another.”
“Once more, forgive me, Sir! For the need that I behold, one priest is not as good as another. It is not a mass that my Lady needeth to be sung; it is counsel that she lacketh.”
“Then let Father Jordan counsel her.”
“Sir, he cannot.”