CHAPTER XXII--THE ORDEAL

The effect on the people was electrical. A murmur went up that the maiden was innocent else she durst not appeal to the Supreme Judge. AElfric the juggler turned pale. The tendency toward belief in the girl's innocence grew into a certainty in the heart of the ealdorman, and even the gerefa seemed somewhat softened.

"Child, child," he said, compassionately, "wottest thou what thou askest?"

"Yea, I know," answered Egwina, firmly. "By fire or by water as ye may choose, my lord gerefa and my lord ealdorman, and with God be the judgment."

"With God be the judgment," repeated the gerefa solemnly. "But with thee lieth the choice."

"Do ye two choose," said the maiden, "that ye may be satisfied with the trial. It will please me the better to have it so decided."

"Then, brother," said the gerefa, addressing the ealdorman, "what sayest thou to the ordeal by water?"

"If it suit the maiden, I will not gainsay the choice," returned the ealdorman.

"Then, maiden, thou shalt to the bishop, who will return to Winchester this day. There wilt thou purify thyself by just preparation for the rite. Let bread and salt, water and herbs only be thy portion. Three days shalt thou tarry at the abode of the bishop; then, purified and absolved, the ordeal will be given thee. In the presence of witnesses, twelve for thee, and twelve against thee, shalt thou enter the church with the priest. Into boiling water shalt thou plunge thine arm to the elbow, and from the water shalt thou take a stone heated hot. And may God, the Supreme Ruler, who on the last great day shall judge the quick and the dead, be thy judge. May He, in His infinite mercy, prove thee innocent as thou sayest, for dire and dread is the punishment that will o'erwhelm thee shouldst thou be guilty."

The assembly dispersed. With erect bearing, as of one conscious of rectitude, the maiden walked with the ealdorman and the gerefa. With pale face, AElfric would have hurried away with Edwy but that Beornwulf interposed.

"My Lord Oswald," he said, addressing the thegn, "see that these men are present during the ordeal. Be thou there also and thy bond-woman who hath testified."

"Aye; I will be there," answered the thegn. "If it shall be proven that I have wronged the maiden, twice will I pay the were."

"Await the result, and then shape thy action," said Beornwulf, shortly, and continued on his way with the maiden and the ealdorman.

In answer to the knock at the portals of the bishop's house, the warder declared that the bishop had returned but was at mass.

"Then leave we the maiden here," said the ealdorman, "and seek him at the minster."

"Not yet hath the maiden been proven innocent of the charge," said the gerefa cautiously. "I would afford no opportunity for escape lest justice be defeated. Should she flee from us, thou and I, brother, must pay the were."

"Are there not bolts and bars?" queried the other. "Let us leave the girl here, and seek the bishop."

It was so decided, and Egwina found herself alone in a room with the door barred awaiting the return of the bishop. Overwrought by the events which had transpired so rapidly, and the excitement thereof, the wearied girl sank down upon one of the carved settles and gave way to tears. Violently at first she wept, but gradually the sobs grew quieter and less frequent until at last they ceased entirely, and, worn out by fatigue, the maiden slept.

"She sleeps not as the guilty sleeps," said the voice of the ealdorman, as Egwina awoke. "It speaks in the maiden's favor that she hath sought the aid of the church. Mickle do I mislike to see so fair a hand scarred and seamed by the ordeal."

"True," answered a voice, which sounded sweeter than the softest music in Egwina's ear, for well did she know it. "True; but better for the hand to be scarred than that the soul be seared with the blackness of falsehood and theft. Time may bring obliteration to the scars of the skin; to the soul never, save through the blood of Him who alone can purify."

Egwina turned and looked the speaker full in the face.

"Well hast thou spoken, Denewulf," she said.

"Egwina! is it truly thou?" and the bishop, for he was none other than Denewulf, the swineherd, whom the king had appointed to this position, seized the maiden's hands. "Dear child, is it thus that I see thee at last?"

"It is thus, Denewulf," answered Egwina, sadly. "Where is Adiva? I knew not that thou wert the bishop."

"Unworthy am I of so great an estate," said Denewulf, humbly, "but the king hath thought otherwise. Adiva is well and with me. Much will she rejoice to see thee, my child, for little have we known of thee for some time. How comes it that thou art not with the king, but lie in my hands, accused of theft and subjected to the ordeal?"

"'Tis a long story," said Egwina. "Take me to Adiva, dear Denewulf, and then will I tell thee of all that hath befallen me, and why I am with thee to be shriven for the ordeal."

"My lord bishop, is the maiden known to thee?" exclaimed the ealdorman, in surprise. "Belongeth she to the king?"

"She doth," answered Denewulf, sternly. "If harm doth come to her, greatly will ye have to answer to the king."

"Truly, my lord, we knew not that the girl was of the king's household," cried the ealdorman, with humility. "Yet, unknowing the fact, have I believed her guiltless of the theft."

"True," said Egwina, smiling at him, gratefully. "He alone hath shown even a faint belief in mine innocence."

"Now we will go to Adiva," said Denewulf, "and then, child, thou must begin to prepare for the ordeal. Since thou hast demanded it, God alone can judge thee."

"To His hands gladly do I commend the matter," answered Egwina. "Man's judgment is fallible, God's infallible."

"Then in thy hands do I leave the maiden," said the ealdorman, withdrawing.

Adiva greeted her with joy, but became saddened as she told her story.

"Must thy pretty arm be plunged into the water?" she cried, indignantly. "Denewulf, be thou bishop and permit it?"

"She hath appealed to God," answered Denewulf. "Not even the king could prevent the ordeal from taking place now, though I will lay the matter before him if Egwina so wills."

"Nay, do not so," cried Egwina. "Do ye not see, good friends, I wish not Edward to know where I am. The king would be displeased with me for calling upon him. He likes not that Edward looks on me with--" She faltered, blushing.

"With favor," supplemented Adiva. "Dear heart, little one, how could he help it? I knew not that the king would turn from thee because thou wert not gentle. I own that somewhat hath he grieved me in this, but alack! even Alfred, wise and good as he is, hath, mayhap, too much pride."

"Nay, nay, Adiva," chid Egwina. "Say naught against the king. Kind and tender to me always hath he been. Seest thou not that Edward may be chosen of the witan to be cyning some day?--and great will he be, too great for the husband of a simple girl such as I."

Adiva shook her head, and began caressing her, when Denewulf interrupted.

"Not longer must we talk, Adiva. The maiden must begin to prepare for the ordeal. Let her come triumphant from that, and thou wilt have time to talk enow."

"Must she?" Adiva began to weep.

"Grieve not, dear Adiva," comforted Egwina. "I fear naught. Why should I? Am I not innocent? I am ready, Denewulf."

Thus did she enter upon her preparation for the trial. Three days were consumed in making ready. She ate only bread and salt and herbs, and drank but water; spending much time in prayer.

It was the night before the ordeal was to take place that Egwina was awakened by a dim light in the little room which was kept for such as demanded the trial by fire or water. A touch fell softly on her arm, and some one began rubbing it from the elbow down. Wondering much, the maiden sat up on her couch and, behold! Adiva was gently stroking her right arm.

"Adiva, what doest thou to my arm?" questioned the girl.

"Nay, my pretty one, ask me not. No harm, I'll warrant thee."

"What is that with which thou anointest it?" demanded the girl.

"Why shouldst thou wish to know?" cried the good dame. "'Tis but a salve that I had made for thee."

"But why dost thou use it on my arm?"

"Child, 'tis to save thy arm. See, it hardens the skin, and thus it feels not the boiling water, and thou mayest take up the heated stone with impunity."

Egwina snatched her arm from the dame in horror.

"Interferest thou with the judgment of God?" she cried. "How can I prove that I took not the harp if I hardened the hand and the arm to the water? Away, Adiva! Else I shall believe thee in league with the evil one to perjure my soul."

Abashed by the girl's vehemence, the dame left the room, and the maiden carefully removed every vestige of the unguent from her arm. Little did she reck that thus Adiva had anointed the member each night.

The next morning, the day of the ordeal, Egwina laid upon the altar her offering, and received the holy sacrament. Then before the gerefa, Beornwulf, and the ealdorman she again took the oath of innocence. From the accusers, Oswald the thegn, AElfric, Edwy, and others to the number of twelve were chosen for those against her. The ealdorman and eleven others stood for her.

These had fasted for twenty-four hours. On either side of the church they stood, and Denewulf sprinkled them with the holy water, of which they also drank. Presenting the Scriptures to each to kiss, the bishop signed every one with the sign of the cross. The fire which was built directly under the altar sparkled and burned brightly. The huge kettle swinging over it was full of water which bubbled and boiled briskly. In the embers of the fire lay the stone which, heated hot, was to be dropped into the water from which the maiden was to snatch it.

From either side advanced a man: Oswald the thegn and the ealdorman. They went to the kettle, and, agreeing that the water boiled furiously, with measured steps returned to their places at the sides of the church.

All bowed their heads in prayer. As the last collect was said, Egwina entered with the bishop. She was very pale, but she walked firmly, and her eyes shone with a rapt, intent gaze as if communing with invisible beings In her hand she carried a small cross which she kissed ever and anon, and alway did her lips move in prayer.

Slowly the bishop and the accused approached the altar. They paused as they reached the iron kettle. All heads were bowed, and each continued to pray a prayer that the truth might be known, as the bishop with tongs lifted the stone and dropped it into the water.

There was a hissing, seething sound. The water bubbled and moved tumultuously as it received the stone. At a sign from the bishop, with an inaudible prayer, Egwina plunged her bared arm into the water and lifted therefrom the stone.

A look of intense amazement flitted across her face as she did so. Her lips parted as if about to speak, but the bishop made the sign of the cross and she remained silent. Still in dead silence, Denewulf, his own hands covered by a cloth removed from her hand the stone which he threw again into the embers. Solemnly he bandaged the arm and sealed it.

"To God belongeth the judgment," he said in grave tones, and withdrew from the church with the maiden. The people filed out after them.

For three days was the arm to remain bound up, and if it showed foul on the third day guilt was assumed; if clear, without suppuration, then would she be innocent.

"It pains me not, Adiva," said the maiden doubtfully in answer to the solicitous inquiries of the dame. "I know not why but no smart of burn have I felt at all."

"Why shouldst thou?" demanded the dame. "Art thou not one of God's own lambs? Rest thee contented, dear heart, that He meant thee not to suffer."

In the presence of the ealdorman, the gerefa Beornwulf, Oswald the thegn, Edwy, AElfric, and all others present at the ordeal, the bandage was removed from the girl's arm. Clear and white as alabaster, with no mark of scald or burn upon it, shone the beautiful member.

A cry went up from those who saw it.

"A miracle! A miracle!" they shouted. "One of God's own virgins is the maiden!"