I saw the two fearful forms glide close by me, but mist-like and
unreal. Verena called to me: 'Rolf, did you see a tall pale man, and
a little hideous one with him, pass just now up the staircase?' I
flew after them; and found, alas, the poor boy in the same state in
which you saw him a few hours ago. Ever since, the attack has come
on him regularly at this time, and he is in all respects fearfully
changed. The lady of the castle did not fail to discern the avenging
hand of Heaven in this calamity; and as the knight, her husband,
instead of repenting, ever became more truly Biorn of the Fiery Eyes,
she resolved, in the walls of a cloister, by unremitting prayer, to
obtain mercy in time and eternity for herself and her unhappy child."

Rolf was silent; and the chaplain, after some thought, said: "I now
understand why, six years ago, Biorn confessed his guilt to me in
general words, and consented that his wife should take the veil.
Some faint compunction must then have stirred within him, and perhaps
may stir him yet. At any rate it was impossible that so tender a
flower as Verena could remain longer in so rough keeping. But who is
there now to watch over and protect our poor Sintram?"

"The prayer of his mother," answered Rolf. "Reverend sir, when the
first dawn of day appears, as it does now, and when the morning
breeze whispers through the glancing window, they ever bring to my
mind the soft beaming eyes of my lady, and I again seem to hear the
sweet tones of her voice. The holy Verena is, next to God, our chief
aid."

"And let us add our devout supplications to the Lord," said the
chaplain; and he and Rolf knelt in silent and earnest prayer by the
bed of the pale sufferer, who began to smile in his dreams.