'Pia Mater et humilis, Naturæ memor fragilis, In hujus vitæ fluctibus Nos rege tuis precibus. Quem vidi, quem amavi, In quem credidi, quem dilexi, Ora pro nobis. Ut digni efficiamur promessionibus Christi! Santa Caterina, ora pro nobis!'[B] [B] Pious and gentle Mother, thou who knowest our weak nature, guide us by thy prayers through this life's vicissitudes. Thou, whom I saw and loved, in whom I believed and whom I adored, pray for us, that we may be worthy of Christ's promises. Holy Caterina, pray for us! _From a Swedish_ HOMESTEAD VI _The Empress's_ MONEY-CHEST _The Empress's_ MONEY-CHEST The Bishop had summoned Father Verneau to appear before him. It was on account of a somewhat unpleasant matter. Father Verneau had been sent to preach in the manufacturing districts around Charleroi, but he had arrived there in the midst of a strike, when the workmen were rather excited and unmanageable. He informed the Bishop that he had immediately on his arrival in the Black Country received a letter from one of the leaders of the men to the effect that they were quite willing to hear him preach, but if he ventured to mention the name of God either directly or indirectly, there would be a disturbance in the church. 'And when I went up into the pulpit and saw the congregation to whom I should preach,' said the Father, 'I felt no doubt but that the threat would be carried out.' Father Verneau was a little dried-up monk. The Bishop looked down upon him as being of a lower order. Such an unshaven, not too clean monk, with the most insignificant face, was, of course, a coward. He was, probably, also afraid of the Bishop. 'I have been informed,' said the Bishop, 'that you carried out the workmen's wishes. But I need not point out----' 'Monseigneur,' interrupted Father Verneau in all humility, 'I thought the Church, if possible, would avoid everything that might lead to a disturbance.' 'But a Church that dare not mention the name of God----' 'Has Monseigneur heard my sermon?' The Bishop walked up and down the floor to calm himself. 'You know it by heart, of course?' he said. 'Of course, Monseigneur.' 'Let me hear it, then, as it was delivered, Father Verneau, word for word, exactly as you preached it.' The Bishop sat down in his arm-chair. Father Verneau remained standing. '"Citizens and citizenesses," he began in the tone of a lecturer. The Bishop started. 'Yes, that is how they will be addressed, Monseigneur.' 'Never mind, Father Verneau, only proceed.' The Bishop shuddered slightly; these two words had suddenly shown him the whole situation. He saw before him this gathering of the children of the Black Country, to whom Father Verneau had preached. He saw many wild faces, many rags, much coarse merriment. He saw these people for whom nothing had been done.