“The thoughts of the Almighty,” said Gottfried, rising, “are not our thoughts, and his ways are not our ways!  His mercies are over all his works, and his judgments are a great deep!  Remain quiet, then, beneath his hand, and let his Spirit teach you to wait.  He can ’make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water,’ So his holy word declares; and this word, saith Jesus, is truth.”

Thereupon the old man embraced his son.  “I have received thee from God, the second time, dear Arnold,” said he, “and it is a new and great joy to my heart.  Happy the son,” added he, with emotion, “who has been to his father only a subject of gratitude to God.”

Arnold pressed the hand of his father, who went out with Erard.  Ethbert was left with Arnold, and upon Gottfried’s order, revealed to him cautiously all which concerned Theobald, to whose room the old man now went.

CHAPTER VI.

ANXIETIES OF THEOBALD—­WORSHIP OF MARY—–­ THEOBALD INFORMED WHERE HE IS.

“No news yet?” asked the chevalier, sadly; “and the night has come, and a long day has also passed!  Matthew led me to hope the speedy arrival of the express; but he does not come:  and I know not why, I experience in my heart oppression and anguish.  O, who will tell me what has become of Hildegarde and my children?  But what have I to fear?  Rothenwald is impregnable, and should all our enemies surround it, is it not under the protection of Our Lady?  Who shall conquer it?”

“He who dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High,” said Gottfried, “shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  Happy is the man who makes his refuge in the shadow of his wings, until his calamity be overpast.”

“Your confidence is then in God alone!” replied Theobald.  “You do not even name the Holy Virgin!”

“It is because she did not create me, nor does she keep me alive.  This woman, blessed as she has been, did not purchase me with her blood, and is only a creature of God.  What dependence can I place upon a creature?”

“But,” said Theobald, “if God made the queen of heaven and the angels, and if all power has been given them——­”

“Chevalier!” exclaimed Gottfried, “it is Jesus—­it is the Eternal Son of the Father—­it is the King, sitting on the holy mount of Zion—­who says these words, applying them to himself, ’All power has been given to me in heaven and on earth.’  Beware then, for the love of your soul, of attributing this authority to a woman, to whom, when she forgot that she was in the presence of her son, Jesus said, reproachfully, ’Woman! what have I to do with thee?’”

Upon this, Gottfried approached Theobald, whom he looked at affectionately, as he pressed his hand, saying, “May God himself be with you, and strengthen your heart!  To-morrow, certainly, we shall have news of your family, and we know it will be good news, since it will be the will of God:  and God, Theobald, is love.”