The Mending.


But Antonia delayed to set in order her hair and cap and all her
methodical habits of life. When Jonas Bronck's hand was snugly locked in
its case and no longer obliged her to look at it, she took a pensive
pleasure in the relic, bred of usage to its company. She came out of her
chamber erect and calm. Marie was at the stairs speaking to the soldier
stationed in the hall below. He had just piled up his fire, and its
homely splendor sent back to remoteness all human dreads. He hurried up
the stairway to his lady.

"Go knock at the door of the priest, Father Jogues, and demand his
cassock," she said.

The man halted, and asked,--

"What shall I do with it?"

"Bring it hither to me."

"But if he refuses to have it brought?"

"The good man will not refuse. Yet if he asks why," said Madame La Tour
smiling, "tell him it is the custom of the house to take away at night
the cassock of any priest who stays here."

"Yes, madame."

The soldier kept to himself his opinion of meddling with black gowns,