"And now she bids us drop every thing, and go and clean out the chapel, this very morning--to have done by vesper time! Did you ever hear such a thing?" said Sister Ada, from the bench whereon she had sunk. "Mother Ada," said Sister Josia, "would you show me--" "Mercy on us, child, harry not me!" cried Sister Ada. "But I do not know whether a lily should be in this corner by the blessed Mary," said Sister Josia, "or if the ass should stand here." "The lily, by all means," said Sister Gaillarde. "Prithee paint not an ass: there's too many in this world already." "I do wish Father Mortimer would attend to his own business!" cried Sister Ada, "or that we had old Father Hamon back again. I do hate these new officers: they always find fault with every thing." "Ay, new brooms be apt to sweep a bit too clean," replied Sister Gaillarde. "Mary love us, but I would we had a new broom! I don't believe there are twenty bristles left of the old one." Joan looked up from her griffin's tail to laugh. "Well, what is to be done?" "Oh, I suppose we must do as we are bid," saith Sister Ada in a mournful voice. "But, dear heart, to think of it!" "How many pails have you, Sister Ada?" "There's the large bouget, and the little one. The middle-sized one is broken, but it will hold some water." "Two and a half, then," answered Sister Gaillarde. "Well, fetch them, Sister, and I will go and see to the mops. I think we have a mop left. Perhaps, now, if we din our needs well into my Lady's ears, we may get one or two more. But, sweet Saint Felicitas! is there any soap?" "Half a firkin came in last week," responded Sister Ada. "You forget, Sister Gaillarde, the rule forbids us to ask more than once for anything." "The rule should forbid Prioresses to have short memories, then. Come, Sister Annot, leave that minikin fiddle-faddle, and come and help with the real work. If it is to be done by vespers, we want all the hands we can get. I will fetch Sister Margaret to it; she always puts her heart into what she has to do. Well, you look sorely disappointed, child: I am sorry for it, but I cannot help it. I have no fancy for such vanities, but I dare say you like better sticking bits of gold leaf upon vellum than scrubbing and sweeping." "Sister Annot, I am ashamed of you!" said Sister Ada. "Your perfection must be very incomplete, if you can look disappointed on receiving an order from your superior. You ought to rejoice at such an opportunity of mortifying your will." "That's more than I've done," said Sister Gaillarde. "Well, Sister Ada, as you don't offer to move, I suppose we had better leave you here till you have finished rejoicing over the opportunity. I hope you'll get done in time to take advantage of it. Come, Sister Annot."