As they approached the large, high-spired church, Hilda had vague prickings of hope, and was thereby much astonished.

But the preacher had effectually stopped the very last of those exquisite vague prickings of hope.

This was not at all what he had intended to say; but the presence of the adversary was breeding a stubborn antagonism that was more potent on the moral side than all the prickings of conscience.

They used to have," adds Brantome, "prickings of jealousy, love, and ambition."

If Brantome's anecdote is true, as one is inclined to believe, though several historians have cast doubts upon it, Anne de Beaujeu had, in their prickings of jealousy, love, and ambition, a great advantage over Louis of Orleans.

This I did, after asking counsel of the Lord, for full well did I know that I should expose myself to the anger and rudeness of J.K., by touching on a point which I believed was already sore from the prickings of conscience.

"That little maid is over much with old Hanne," he said, as if he meditated to himself; "she will teach her other prickings than the needle-play.

Above, the last faint prickings of stars were fading.

His conscience pricked him; but such prickings are small help to love.