The rector was examining the face with great interest. "It is a
wonderful countenance," he said; "take a look at it, Miss Fontaine,
and see if it does not bear out what I accidentally said about La
Trappe."
"No, indeed, it does not! I allow that it is the face of a refined,
thorough-bred ecclesiastic. He was the son of the Church."
"Yes; he came, indeed, from the tribe of Levi."
"It is a fine, classical, clearly-chiseled face--the face of a scholar
and a gentleman."
"A little of the fanatic in it--admit that. I have seen pictures of
grand inquisitors, by Velasquez, which resemble it."
"You must not say such things, my dear rector. Look again. I admit
that it is a clever face, and I have seen it compared to that of
Richelieu and Loyola, as uniting the calm iron will and acute eye of
the one with the inventive genius and habitual devotion of the other;
but I see more than this, there is the permeation of that serenity
which comes from an assurance of the love of God."
"God love thee, Phyllis! Thou'lt be makkin' a Methodist o' me, whether
I will or no. I hed no idea afore there was a' that in t' picture.
I wont stay here any longer. Thanks be! It's sleeping-time, missee."
"I should like to sleep in this room, squire."
"Why, then, rector, thou shall. A bit o' fire and some aired bed-clothes
is a' it wants. Thou's sure to sleep well in it, and thou'lt hev t' sunrise
to wake thee up."
And Phyllis thought, when she saw him in the morning, that he had kept
some of the sunshine in his face. He was walking up and down the
terrace softly humming a tune to himself, and watching the pigeons
promenade with little, timid, rapid steps, making their necks change
like opals with every movement. The roofs and lintels and the soft
earth was still wet, but the sun shone gloriously, and the clear air
was full of a thousand scents.
"How beautiful all is, and how happy you look," and Phyllis put her
hand in the rector's, and let him lead her to the end of the terrace,
where she could see the green country flooded with sunshine.
"Did you sleep well in Wesley's chamber?"
"I slept very well; and this morning the pleasantest thing happened.
Upon a little table I saw a Bible lying, and I read the morning lesson,
which was a very happy one; then I lifted another book upon the stand.
It was 'The Pilgrim's Progress;' and this was the passage I lighted
upon: 'The Pilgrim they laid in a large upper chamber facing the
sunrising. The name of the chamber was Peace.' There was a pencil-mark
against the passage, and I fancy John Wesley put it there. It was a
little thing, but it has made me very happy."
"I can understand."
"God bless you, child! I am sure you can."
CHAPTER III.
"He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him
in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him." Psa. xci, 15.
"Alas for hourly change! Alas for all
The loves that from his hand proud Youth lets fall,
Even as the beads of a told rosary!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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