CHAPTER XCVIII
A fortnight after this a pale bowed figure entered the Dominican conventin the suburbs of Gouda, and sought speech with Brother Ambrose, whogoverned the convent as deputy, the prior having lately died, and hissuccessor, though appointed, not having arrived.
The sick man was Gerard, come to end life as he began it.
He entered as a novice, on probation but the truth was, he was afailing man, and knew it, and came there to die in peace, near kind andgentle Ambrose, his friend, and the other monks to whom his house andheart had always been open.
His manse was more than he could bear; it was too full of reminiscencesof her.
Ambrose, who knew his value, and his sorrow, was not without a kindlyhope of curing him, and restoring him to his parish. With this view heput him in a comfortable cell over the gateway, and forbade him to fastor practice any austerities.
But in a few days the new prior arrived, and proved a very Tartar.At first he was absorbed in curing abuses, and tightening the generaldiscipline; but one day hearing the vicar of Gouda had entered theconvent as a novice, he said, "'Tis well; let him first give up hisvicarage then, or go; I'll no fat parsons in my house." The prior thensent for Gerard, and he went to him; and the moment they saw one anotherthey both started.
"Clement!"
"Jerome!"