"Too late for the mercy of God?" replied Hugh Calverley gently. "For the housel and the chrism, they be mercies of man. But the mercies of God are infinite and unchangeable unto all such as grip hold on Jesu Christ." "Unto them that die in mortal sin?" said Avice, not lifting her head. "All sin is mortal," said Hugh in the same quiet manner; "but for His people, He hath made an end of sin, and hath `distreiede [destroyed] deeth, and lightnide [brought to light] lyf.'" "That is, for the saints?" said Maude sadly. "Mistress, an' it had not been for the sinners, you and I must needs have fared ill. Who be saints saving they that were once sinners?" "Soothly, Master Calverley, these be matters too high for me. I am no saint, God wot." "Doth God wot that, Mistress Maude? Then of a surety I am sorry for you." Maude was silent, though she thought it strange doctrine. But Avice said in a low voice, recurring to her former subject,--"You believe, Master Calverley, that God can raise the dead; but think you that He can quicken again to life an heart that is dead, and cold, and hard as yonder stone? Is there any again rising for such?" "Madam, if no, there had been never none for neither you nor me. We be all dead souls by nature." "Ay, afore baptism, so wit I; but what of mortal sin done after baptism?" "I speak but as I am learned, Madam," said Hugh modestly. "I am younger even than you, methinks, and far more witless. But I have heard them say that have been deep skilled, as methinks, in the ministeries [mysteries] of God, that wherein it is said that `He mai save withouten ende,' it scarce signifieth only afore baptism." "Ah!" said Maude, with a sigh, "to do away sin done after baptism is a mighty hard and grievous matter. Good sooth, at my first communion, this last summer, so abashed [nervous] was I, and in so painful bire [confused haste], that I let drop the holy wafer upon the ground; and for all I gat it again unbroke, and licked well with my tongue the stide [spot] where it had fallen, Father Dominic [a fictitious person] said I had done dreadful sin, and he caused me to crawl upon my knees all around the church, and to say an hundred Ave Marys and ten Paternosters at every altar. And in very deed I was right sorrowful for mine ill mischance; nor could I help the same, for I saw not the matter rightly. But Father Dominic said our Lord should be right sore offenced with me, and mine only hope lay in moving the mercy of our dear worthy Lady to plead with Him. If it be not wicked to say the same," added she timidly, "I would God were not angered with us for such like small gear. But I count our Lady heard me, sith Father Dominic was pleased to absolve me at last." "Will you give me leave to say a thing, Mistress Maude?" "I pray you so do, Master Calverley."