“Then I’ll remove them for six days. After that they’ll come back again, but you’ll have finished.” “Yes. For Rosalie. And when to wear it?” “New Year’s Eve.” “Thank you. Now you had better leave me. What of these slippers?” “Sew them with jewels.” “And make her tired feet? Is it some practice of cruelty?” “No. A whim of mine. To show honour to an escaped prisoner.” “I must wake. Six days to make a dress, and it is rumoured that one of the planets was made in that time! I must hasten.” So then he left her, and she worked alone. And hour by hour some fresh seam in the design became completed, and on the third day Everard came. He carried a large sack, and it was full of jewels of every known description, small and large. Standing there, he said suddenly: “Can I help you with these? Sorting or stringing?” “But surely it’s against the rules.” “It is advisable to break them in emergency. And I doubt if this be not finished, some great calamity will rise. The Master is away. The work is out of all proportion to the time. For his sake, for yours, and for hers, I wish to help you, for this day, at least.” So Mariana gave way, and one little flame of heat passed over the icy barrier almost unconsciously. The cell, being less lonely now, lost its ghastliness. Thus the time passed away until completion, the last day of the old year, the eve of the new. And on that afternoon at four o’clock Mariana heaved a sigh of apparent contentment, for all was now in readiness. And Everard, having done his full share in the arrangement of jewels, and whatever else was needed, returned to the door in order to welcome Mr. Barringcourt, who just then returned. CHAPTER XXXIV “A GIFT, A FRIEND, A FOE, A BEAU, A JOURNEY TO GO.” To return again for a brief interval to that day following Christmas Day. Mr. Barringcourt, when he had left Mariana, went to see the Great High Priest, and afterwards attended with many others the Service of Dedication of the Curtain. Miss Crokerly was there, but not Rosalie. Afterwards Mr. Barringcourt said to the new High Priest when left alone together, and the guests departed: “Why didn’t you invite Miss Paleaf?” “I have told you why. I am only waiting for a sufficiently good opportunity to bring forward the trial.” Mr. Barringcourt’s lips set. “You make a great stir about nothing,” said he. “I don’t forget the awkward time at which she spoke.” “And when do you propose to send out the summons?” “On New Year’s Day. A public trial and an ecclesiastical court.” “And you as judge?” “Oh, no! There is Golden Priest Ferdinand. I take no further steps in the matter publicly.” “And the punishment?” “Life-time imprisonment.” Mr. Barringcourt looked at him and laughed. “You laugh? After all, it is worth nothing better. People must be taught a proper respect for established religion.”