The Miracle at St. Bruno's

Already weeds had started to grow in the Abbey gardens; no one interfered; they were unsure how such action would be regarded. Each day we had expected something to be done, but St. Bruno's seemed to have been forgotten. At the end of each day several beggars would be at our gates and a bench with forms had been set up in the garden and on my father's orders any beggar received a quart of beer and as many spice cakes as he could eat.

I sat one day in my mother's rose garden-a delightful spot with a wall surrounding it and reached through a wrought-iron gate and I said to myself: "It won't go on like this. This is a lull. Something will happen soon. Keziah could not stay in her bedroom; she would have to bestir herself. My father would return to a more normal life and not spend so much time in solitude and prayer. Someone would take over the Abbey. I had heard that the King made gifts of Abbey lands to those who had earned his favors. Oh, yes, it had to change.”

And while I was brooding on these matters the gate clicked and Bruno and Kate came into the garden. I noticed that their fingers were interlaced. They were talking earnestly. Then they saw me.

"Here's Damask," said Kate unnecessarily. I noticed that her eyes were brilliant and her expression soft; and I was sad because with Kate, Bruno could be different from the way he could be with anyone else. I felt shut out of a magic circle of which I so longed to be a part.

"The roses are more beautiful this year," I said.

I sensed that they wanted to go away or for me to go; but I stood my ground.

"Come and sit down," I said. "It is very pleasant here.”

To my surprise they obeyed me, and we sat Bruno between us.

I said, "This reminds me of the old days in the Abbey grounds.”

"It is not a bit like that," retorted Kate. "This is my aunt's rose garden, not Abbey land.”

"I meant the three of us together.”

"It's a long time ago," said Bruno.

I wanted to recapture the days when we were a trio of which I was a definite part.

I went on: "I shall never forget the day we went into the Abbey... the three of us and you showed us the jeweled Madonna.”

A faint color had come into Bruno's cheeks. Kate was unusually silent. I guessed that they were, as I was, thinking of the moment when the great iron-studded door had opened and its creak had sounded loud enough to awaken the dead. I could smell the dampness, which had seemed to rise from those great flagged stones; I could feel the silence.

I said: "I've often wondered what happened to the jeweled Madonna. Those men must have taken her away and given her and all her jewels to the King.”

"They did not take her," said Bruno. "There was a miracle.”

We both turned to him and I knew that this was the first time he had spoken of the jeweled Madonna even to Kate. "What happened?" asked Kate. "When they went into the sacred chapel the Madonna was not there.”

"Then where was she?" asked Kate.

"No one knew. She had disappeared. It was said she had gone back to heaven rather than let the robbers get her.”

"I don't believe that," said Kate. "Someone hid her away before the men could get her.”

"It was a miracle," replied Bruno.

"Miracles!" cried Kate. "I don't believe in miracles anymore.”

Bruno had stood up, his face flushed and angry. Kate caught his hand but he flung her aside; and then he ran out of the rose garden. Kate ran after him.

"Bruno!" I heard her call imperiously. "Come back to me.”

And I was left sitting there, with the realization that I could never be as close to him as Kate was and feeling lonely and sad because of it.

While I sat in the rose garden Simon Caseman came in. I thought he was looking for my mother and I told him I thought she was in the herb garden.

"But it was you I came to see, Mistress Damask," he said; and he sat beside me. He studied me so intently that I felt embarrassed under his gaze, especially as the recent encounter with Bruno and Kate had upset me. He went on: "Why, you are growing into a beauty.”

"I do not believe that to be true.”

"And modest withal.”

"Not modest," I said. "If I thought I were a beauty I should not hesitate to admit it, for beauty is not a thing to take credit for since it is bestowed and not earned.”

"And wise," he said. "I confess to be a little overawed in your presence. Your father constantly speaks of your erudition.”

"You should take that as paternal pride. To a father his geese are swans.”

"In this case I find myself in wholehearted agreement with the Parent in question.”

"I can only believe that you have lost your sense of judgment then. I fear for your performance in the courts.”

"What a joy it is to talk with you, Mistress Damask.”

"You are easily content, Master Caseman.”

"There is one thing I would like to ask you, with your permission.”

"That permission is given.”

"You are no longer a child. Have you ever thought of giving your hand in marriage?”

"I suppose it is natural in all young women to think of eventual marriage.”