When he was come home, he went to see his sister, as one who highly
rejoiced in her virtue. So came she to the grate that they call, I
believe, the locutory, and after their holy watchword spoken on
both sides, after the manner used in that place, each took the
other by the tip of the finger, for no hand could be shaken through
the grate. And forthwith my lady began to give her brother a sermon
of the wretchedness of this world, and frailty of the flesh, and
the subtle sleights of the wicked fiend, and gave him surely good
counsel (saving somewhat too long) how he should be well wary in
his living and master well his body for the saving of his soul. And
yet, ere her own tale came to an end, she began to find a little
fault with him and said, "In good faith, brother, I do somewhat
marvel that you, who have been at learning so long and are a doctor
and so learned in the law of God, do not now at our meeting (since
we meet so seldom) to me who am your sister and a simple unlearned
soul, give of your charity some fruitful exhortation. For I doubt
not but you can say some good thing yourself." "By my troth, good
sister," quoth her brother, "I cannot, for you! For your tongue
hath never ceased, but said enough for us both."
And so, cousin, I remember that when I was once fallen in, I left
you little space to say aught between.
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