"It is right that you should call us fools, my brother," answered Francis. "We are sinful men, who follow the way which God hath shown us, and have no wisdom in worldly things. We are fools for Christ's sake. Yea, we are the fools of God, and by our folly seek to draw men toward him. But thy kindliness and mercy shown to us, my brother, is a good deed, which like a seed thrown in the ground shall flourish and bear fruit. Yea, though thou seest it not. And when thou goest before God at the last, he will take two apples out of his robe, an apple of gold and an apple of silver, and he will speak to thee, saying: 'Lo, here is thy payment for that thou hast succoured my children on earth; these be the fruit of the seed which thou then plantedst.'" But the young man blushed shamefully. "Suffer me now to go," he said. "Thou hast made me ashamed. Yet if thou shouldst pray for me, pray also for my beloved, who is called Vanna." He climbed into his cart, and continued on the way they had come, the bells tinkling upon his mule. And after a little time, when they were rested, they went their own way, with great weariness of body and in silence because they were still dazed and giddy. But coming to Orte, they entered into an ancient ruined tomb, where they determined to abide for that night, and some peasants gave them enough food. Then sitting in the starlight, they praised God for his mercy. "Surely," said Francis, "he who succoured us was an angel sent from God, for how else could we have been rescued from death?" And they marvelled that they had not known him for an angel, and with great joy they praised God. * * * * * "They were twelve fools," said the young man to Vanna; "but for me they would have perished by the roadside." "God was good to them," she answered simply; and again he was ashamed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ _TO LAURENCE BINYON_ V AT SAN CASCIANO ------------------------------------------------------------------------ V AT SAN CASCIANO Taking a pen from the table, he mended it to his own fashion, and wrote: