Here he must spend the night in the ghostly glimmer and shadow of the church , and looking on the pale face of him he slew ; and here , in the morning , he must see his sweetheart married to another man before his eyes . But , for all that , he obtained a command upon his mind , and built himself up in patience to await the issue . CHAPTER IV -- IN THE ABBEY CHURCH In Shoreby Abbey Church the prayers were kept up all night without cessation , now with the singing of psalms , now with a note or two upon the bell . Rutter , the spy , was nobly waked . There he lay , meanwhile , as they had arranged him , his dead hands crossed upon his bosom , his dead eyes staring on the roof ; and hard by , in the stall , the lad who had slain him waited , in sore disquietude , the coming of the morning . Once only , in the course of the hours , Sir Oliver leaned across to his captive . `` Richard , '' he whispered , `` my son , if ye mean me evil , I will certify , on my soul 's welfare , ye design upon an innocent man . Sinful in the eye of Heaven I do declare myself ; but sinful as against you I am not , neither have been ever . '' `` My father , '' returned Dick , in the same tone of voice , `` trust me , I design nothing ; but as for your innocence , I may not forget that ye cleared yourself but lamely . '' `` A man may be innocently guilty , '' replied the priest . `` He may be set blindfolded upon a mission , ignorant of its true scope . So it was with me . I did decoy your father to his death ; but as Heaven sees us in this sacred place , I knew not what I did . '' `` It may be , '' returned Dick . `` But see what a strange web ye have woven , that I should be , at this hour , at once your prisoner and your judge ; that ye should both threaten my days and deprecate my anger . Methinks , if ye had been all your life a true man and good priest , ye would neither thus fear nor thus detest me . And now to your prayers . I do obey you , since needs must ; but I will not be burthened with your company . '' The priest uttered a sigh so heavy that it had almost touched the lad into some sentiment of pity , and he bowed his head upon his hands like a man borne down below a weight of care . He joined no longer in the psalms ; but Dick could hear the beads rattle through his fingers and the prayers a-pattering between his teeth .
Yet a little , and the grey of the XXXXX began to struggle through the painted casements of the church , and to put to shame the glimmer of the tapers .
Church Dick Methinks Oliver a-pattering decoy morning night psalms slew