An Excellent Mystery (30 page)

The
half-hour of rest after dinner had passed, the brothers stirred again to their
work, and so did Cadfael, parting from his friends at the turn of the box
hedge. Sister Magdalen and her two stout woodsmen would be off back to Godric’s
Ford by the westward track, and Hugh was heading thankfully for home. Cadfael
passed through the herb-garden into the small plot where he had a couple of
apple trees and a pear tree of his own growing, just old enough to crop. He
surveyed the scene with deep content. Everything was greening afresh where it
had been pale as straw. The Meole Brook had still a few visible shoals, but was
no longer a mere sad, sluggish network of rivulets struggling through pebble
and sand. September was again September, mellowed and fruitful after the summer
heat and drought. Much of the abundant weight of fruit had fallen unplumped by
reason of the dryness, but even so there would still be harvest enough for
thanksgiving. After every extreme the seasons righted themselves, and won back
the half at least of what was lost. So might the seasons of men right
themselves, with a little help by way of rain from heaven.

O God, who hast
consecrated the state of Matrimony to such an excellent mystery… Look
mercifully, upon these thy servants.

from “The form of Solemnization of Matrimony” in The
Book of Common Prayer

About
the Author

ELLIS PETERS is
the
nom-de-crime
of English novelist Edith Pargeter, author of scores of
books under her own name. She is the recipient of the Silver Dagger Award,
conferred by the Crime Writers Association in Britain, as well as the coveted
Edgar, awarded by the Mystery Writers of America. Miss Pargeter is also well
known as a translator of poetry and prose from the Czech and has been awarded
the Gold Medal and Ribbon of the Czechoslovak Society for Foreign Relations for
her services to Czech literature. She passed away in 1995, at the age of 82, at
home in her beloved Shropshire.