"
"I will keep it for ever," said Grisell, and they parted, but not as
girls part who hope to meet again, and can write letters constantly,
but with tearful eyes and clinging hands, as little like to meet
again, or even to hear more of one another.
The whirlicote was not much better than an ornamental waggon, and
Lady Salisbury, with the Mother of the Maids, did their best to
lessen the force of the jolts as by six stout horses it was dragged
over the chalk road over the downs, passing the wonderful stones of
Amesbury--a wider circle than even Stonehenge, though without the
triliths, i.e. the stones laid one over the tops of the other two
like a doorway. Grisell heard some thing murmured about Merlin and
Arthur and Guinevere, but she did not heed, and she was quite worn
out with fatigue by the time they reached the descent into the long
smooth valley where Wilton Abbey stood, and the spire of the
Cathedral could be seen rising tall and beautiful.
The convent lay low, among meadows all shut in with fine elm trees,
and the cows belonging to the sisters were being driven home, their
bells tinkling. There was an outer court, within an arched gate kept
by a stout porter, and thus far came the whirlicote and the
Countess's attendants; but a lay porteress, in a cap and veil and
black dress, came out to receive her as the door of the carriage was
opened, and held out her arms to receive the muffled figure of the
little visitor.
Pages:
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42