Maeve, I based my conclusion that Eve and Herve lived in separate cells on Geoffrey's praise for their way of life and his condemnation of Robert's clearly syneisatistic way of life with his followers. It would have created incredible scandal if they had shared a cell -- and if they had shared a cell and remained celibate, we would have been told about this great miracle by Geoffrey, Hilary, or somebody. On Roger seeing Christina only once, I am dependant on Fr Jean; you suggest that "it is improbable that Roger avoided looking at her (or Christina at him) in the intimate interaction described by the author, and, if he did, the author would most likely mention it as further testament to his discipline." Assuming they had separate, adjoining, cells with a communicationg window, I believe that that window would have been heavily grilled, as at Fontevrault, Sempringham, and many pre-Vatican II nunneries, which would allow Roger to speak with, but not see, Christina (and Herve, Eve). I agree with you that Eve and Hervey's relationship, and Christina's with Roger, are good examples of medieval syneisaktism. For some others, see Jaqueline Smith's "Procurator mulierum" in Rosalind Hill's festschrift. Dominique Iogna-Prat (sp?) has written about this as well; I don't have the exact reference to hand, but it is cited by Smith (and I have a copy at home which I could send you if -- like us - - your ILL allowance is rationed like wartime petrol...). tot straks, j JON PORTER Department of History University of Nottingham %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%