_Sister Assumcion_: And that little stone is the sin of a religious?
_Sister Pilar_ (_with a shrug_): Give it whatever meaning tallies with your humour. (_She opens a book and begins to read it._)
_Sister Assumcion_ (_yawning_): I’m hungry. Shall I send Zuleica to beg some marzipan from the Cellaress, or shall I possess my soul and belly in patience until dinner-time?
_First Nun_ (_jocosely_): For shame! Gluttony is one of the deadly sins, is it not, Sister Pilar?
_SISTER PILAR keeps her eyes fixed on her book without answering. JAIME RODRIGUEZ enters by door to left. Flutter among nuns._
_Jaime Rodriguez_: Christ and His Mother be with you, my daughters. (_Sits down and mops his brow._) ’Tis wondrous cool and pleasant in your court. (_He gives a shy glance at SISTER PILAR, but she continues to keep her eyes on her book. Turns to fourth nun._) Well, daughter, and what of the cope you promised me?
_Second Nun_ (_holding up her embroidery_): See! It wants but three more roses and one swan.
_Jaime Rodriguez_ (_with another glance in the direction of_ SISTER PILAR): And do you know of what the swan is the figure? In that, flying from man, it makes its dwelling in wild, solitary haunts, St. Gregory of Nazianus holds that it figures the anchorite, and truly....
_Sister Pilar_ (_suddenly looking up, and smiling a little_): But what of its love of the lyre and all secular songs, by which it is wont to be lured to its destruction from its most secret glens? I have read that this same failing has led some learned doctors to look upon it as a figure of the soul of man, drawn hither and thither by the love of vain things.
_Jaime Rodriguez_ (_up to now he has spoken in a mincing, self-conscious voice, but from this point on his voice is shrill and excited_): Yes, yes, but that can also be interpreted as the love of godly men for sermons and edification and grave seemly discourse on the beautitudes of eternal life, and the holy deeds of men and women long since departed....
_Sister Assumcion_: The love, in short, of such discourse as yours, father? (_She tries in vain to catch SISTER PILAR’S eye and wink at her._)
_Jaime Rodriguez_ (_pouting like a cross child_, sotto voce): Honey is not for the mouth of the ass.