“Of Christ’s body spiritually dost thou eat,” said the bishop as he administered the bread. “Pure and sinless was He. If thou art innocent, eat with impunity of the holy loaf, and drink of the wine which by His blessing is His blood spiritually. Eat and drink, woman! If innocent, fear naught; if guilty, woe, woe to thy soul.” The woman trembled, and her face, already pale, grew ghastly white. She stretched forth her hand for the holy morsel, and then with a great cry fell at the bishop’s feet. “I dare not,” she cried, “for my soul’s sake, I dare not partake of it.” “Then, daughter, assoil thy soul of its taint by full confession.” “I will, I will,” sobbed the woman, breaking down completely. “I did give the harp to the maiden even as she hath declared. All was as she hath already told. I ran after her and gave it into her hands, stating that my Lord Oswald had sent it as gift.” “But why, daughter, shouldst thou so perjure thy soul?” asked the bishop. “Oh, my lord, judge me not too hardly. I have a child, and mickle doth it grieve me that she should be a slave. Ælfric would give me the money to buy my child and then she would be free—free, my lord bishop! Little dost thou reck of a mother’s heart if thou wottest not the temptation such offer would be to me. What knew I of the maiden? She was naught to me, and my child is my life.” “Grievous hath been thy sin, woman, but great also thy temptation,” said Denewulf, with compassion. “Hardened thou art not, or the holy supper would not have so affected thee. Out of her sorrow at thy lot feel, daughter, the full blessings of the Church. Thy child, and thou also, shall be freed from her bounty. Not because of thy sin, but because the Church hath compassion on thine affliction doth she redeem thee. Arise, daughter, and go in peace. Even as the Holy One, whose priest I am, spake to the erring woman, so say I to thee: ‘Go, and sin no more!’” With prayers and tears and ejaculations of gratitude, the woman arose, and left the minster. The bishop approached Ælfric. “Wilt thou partake of the holy bread and wine, or wilt thou, as the woman hath done, assoil thy soul’s guilt by confession?” Ælfric’s lip curled. “Naught fear I, sir priest. On with thy ordeal! What have I to confess?” “Heardst thou not what the woman confessed?” asked the bishop. “That thou hadst enticed her into this deed by the offer of money to buy the freedom of her child. Man, man! Partakest thou of the Eucharist and purgest not thy soul by confession?” “Naught have I to confess,” reiterated the man, doggedly. “Falsely hath the woman sworn to thee, as thou wilt see.”