After I had been in bed a little while, I heard the priest’s door open and close again, and then Parker tapped at my open door and came in. “I have left him quiet, sir. I do not think he will sleep, but he would not let me stay.” “Have you ever seen him like this before?” I asked. “Never quite like this, sir,” he said; and as I looked at the old servant I saw that his eyes were bright with tears, and his lips twitching. “Well,” I said, “we have both heard strange things to-night. Your master whom you love is in the hands of God.” The old servant’s face broke into lines of sorrow; and then the tears ran down his face. “Excuse me, sir,” he said, “I am not quite myself. Shall I put the candle out, sir?” Then he lay down on the sofa. “One word more, Parker. You will wake me if you hear anything more. And anyhow you will call me at seven if I should be asleep.” “Certainly, sir,” answered Parker’s voice from the darkness. I slept and woke often that night. Each time I woke I went quietly to the door and looked across the landing and listened. Each time I was not so quiet but that Parker heard me and was by me as I looked, and each time there was a line of light under the priest’s door; and once or twice a murmur of one voice at least from the room. Towards morning I fell into a sound sleep, and awoke to find Parker arranging my clothes and setting ready my bath. The rugs and the pillow were gone from the sofa, and there was no sign on the servant’s face that anything unusual had happened during the night. “How is he?” I asked quickly. “Have you seen him?” “Yes, sir,” said Parker; “he is dressing now, and will be ready at half-past seven. It is a little before seven now, sir.” “But how is he?” I asked again. “I scarcely know, sir,” answered Parker. “He does not seem ill, but he is very silent again this morning, sir.” Then, after a pause, “Is there anything I can do for you, sir?” “There is nothing more, thank you,” I said, and he left the room. I got up presently and dressed. The morning was still dark, and I dressed by candlelight. When I drew the curtains back the sky had just begun to glimmer in the reflected dawn from the other side of the house; but it was too dark to see to read except by artificial light. I went out on to the landing, paused a moment, and heard a footstep in the priest’s room. Then I opened the door of the oratory and went in. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In the Morning ------------------------------------------------------------------------ “At the end of woe suddenly our eyes shall be opened, and in clearness of light our sight shall be full: which light is God, our Maker and Holy Ghost, in Christ Jesus our Saviour.” _Mother Julian._ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In the Morning