Never again could the woman who had told Hugh d'Argent, in words of perfect tenderness, the wonder of her love, and that she was ready on the morrow to ride home with him, be content in the calm of the Cloister.
If Hugh persisted in this folly of frankness and disturbed her peace, she might leave him.
If the Bishop made the way easy, she might return to the Nunnery.
But all the true life of her would be left behind with her lover.
She would bring to the Cloister a lacerated conscience, and a broken heart.
Surely the two men who loved her, if they thrust away all thought of self, and thought only of her, could save her this anguish.
At once the Bishop resolved to do his part.
"My dear Hugh," he said, "you did well to come to me in order to consult over these plans before taking the irrevocable step which should set them in motion. I, alone, could reinstate your wife as Prioress of the White Ladies; moreover my continued presence here would be essential, to secure her comfort in that reinstatement. And I shall not be here. I am shortly leaving Worcester, leaving this land and returning to my beauteous Italy. The Holy Father has been pleased to tell me privately of high preferment shortly to be offered me. I have to-day decided to accept it. I return to Italy a Cardinal of Holy Church."
Hugh rose to his feet and bowed. An immense scorn blazed in his eyes.
"My Lord High Cardinal, I congratulate you! That a cardinal's hat should tempt you from your cathedral, from this noble English city, from your people who love you, from the land of your birth, may perhaps be understood. But that, for the sake of Church preferment, however high, you should willingly depart, leaving Mora in sorrow, Mora in difficulty, Mora needing your help——"