“A sudden desire, child.”
“Sir,” said Brigid very low and earnest, “may not Our Lord speak suddenly an’ He will?”
“Very true,” replied the Cardinal, “an’ it be indeed His voice and not thy own heart speaking.”
Brigid remained silent. The Cardinal bent kindly eyes towards her, read clearly resolve in the small square face. Musing, he shifted ground.
“Nuns pray much,” he said warningly. “Thy aunt hath told me that on former occasions when thou hast visited the Minster prayer was none so greatly to thy liking.”
“Mayhap, my Lord,” said Brigid sweetly, “I can acquire liking. Here is a good school.”
The Cardinal’s eyes twinkled. Memory turning backward many years he saw the Lady Abbess herself before him, heard spoken words.
“Methinks, daughter,” here was memory speaking, “thou lackest meekness, a quality possessed by nuns.”
“Then, Father, it were well I seek it where it dwells so willingly.”
Here he found a repetition of that little scene.