He smiled as Roma approached, a sad smile, and his weary eyes, when she

looked timidly into his face, were full of the measureless pity that is

in the eyes of the surgeon who is about to vivisect a dumb creature

because it is necessary for the welfare of the human race.

She knelt and kissed his ring. He raised her and put her to sit on the

lounge, sitting in the arm-chair himself, and continuing to hold her

hand. The Capuchin stood by the window, holding the curtain aside as if

looking out on the piazza.

"You believe the Holy Father would not send for you to injure you?" he

said.

"I am sure he would not, your Holiness," she answered.

"And though I disapprove of your husband's doings, you know I would not

willingly do him any harm?"

"The Holy Father would not do harm to any one; and my husband is so

good, and his aims are so noble, that nobody who really knew him could

ever try to injure him."

He looked into her face; it shone with a frightened joy, and pity grew

upon him.

"Your devotion to your husband is very sweet and beautiful, my daughter,

and it grieves the Holy Father's heart to trouble it. But it seems to be

his duty to do so, and he must do his duty."

Again she looked up timidly, and again the sense came to him of dumb

eyes full of entreaty.

"My daughter, your husband's motives may not be bad. They may even be

good and noble. It is often so with men of his sympathies. They see the

disparity of wealth and poverty, and their hearts are torn with anger

and with pity. But, my child, they do not know that true and lasting

reforms, such as affect the whole human family, can only be

accomplished by God and by the authority of His Holy Church and

Pontificate, and that it must be the bell of St. Peter's which announces

them to the world."

As the Pope was speaking the colour ran up Roma's face like a flag of

distress. She looked helplessly round at the Capuchin. The dumb eyes

seemed to ask when the blow would fall.

"As a consequence, what is he doing, my daughter? Ignoring the Church,

which like a true mother is ever anxious to bear the burden of human

weakness and suffering; he is setting up a new gospel, such as would

reduce mankind to a worse barbarism than that from which Christ freed

us. Is this conduct worthy of your devotion, my child?"




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