sun, shining through the high oriel window, and showing up the
stained and threadbare condition of his once rich doublet, seemed
to illuminate the fallen fortunes of his family.

The sacrist had finished his exposition, and the sergeant-at-law
was about to conclude a case which Nigel could in no way
controvert, when help came to him from an unexpected quarter. It
may have been a certain malignity with which the sacrist urged his
suit, it may have been a diplomatic dislike to driving matters to
extremes, or it may have been some genuine impulse of kindliness,
for Abbot John was choleric but easily appeased. Whatever the
cause, the result was that a white plump hand, raised in the air
with a gesture of authority, showed that the case was at an end.

"Our brother sacrist hath done his duty in urging this suit," said
he, "for the worldly wealth of this Abbey is placed in his pious
keeping, and it is to him that we should look if we suffered in
such ways, for we are but the trustees of those who come after us.
But to my keeping has been consigned that which is more precious
still, the inner spirit and high repute of those who follow the
rule of Saint Bernard. Now it has ever been our endeavor, since
first our saintly founder went down into the valley of Clairvaux
and built himself a cell there, that we should set an example to
all men in gentleness and humility. For this reason it is that we
built our houses in lowly places, that we have no tower to our
Abbey churches, and that no finery and no metal, save only iron or
lead, come within our walls. A brother shall eat from a wooden
platter, drink from an iron cup, and light himself from a leaden
sconce. Surely it is not for such an order who await the
exaltation which is promised to the humble, to judge their own