Presently, after much peering into the bag, the fine white pea, the
wizened pea, and the pale and speckled pea, lay in line upon the stone.

"This," explained Mary Antony, pointing, with knobby forefinger, to the
first, "is the Reverend Mother, Herself--large, and pure, and
noble. . . . Nay, hop not too close, Sir Redbreast! When we enter her
chamber we kneel at the threshold, till she bids us draw nearer. True,
_we_ are merely soberly-clad, holy women, whereas _thou_ art a gay,
gaudy man; bold-eyed, and, doubtless, steeped in sin. But even thou
must keep thy distance, in presence of this most Reverend Pea of great
price.

"This," indicating the shrivelled pea, "is Mother Sub-Prioress, who
would love to have the whipping of thee, thou naughty little rascal!

"This is Sister Mary Rebecca who daily grows more crooked, both in mind
and body; yet who ever sweetly smileth.

"Now will I show thee, if so be that I can find her, Sister Teresa, a
kindly soul and gracious, but with a sniff which may be heard in the
kitchens when that holy Lady taketh her turn at the Refectory reading.
And when, the reading over, having sniffed every other minute, she at
length, feels free to blow, beshrew me, Master Redbreast, one might
think our old dun cow had just been parted from a newly-born calf.
Yea, a kind, gracious soul; but noisy about the nose, and forgetful of
the ears of other people, her own necessity seeming excuse enough for
veritable trumpet blasts."

Mary Antony, half turning as she talked, peered into the open bag in
search of Sister Teresa.