“Ah! let me belong to you!” cried Godefroid, stretching out his hands to the kind old man.

“Now you understand why there are some subjects of conversation which are never mentioned here, nor even alluded to.  You can now see the obligations of delicacy that all who live in this house contract towards one who seems to us a saint.  You comprehend—­do you not?—­the influence of a woman made sacred by such sorrows, who knows so many things, to whom anguish has said its utmost word; who from each adversity has drawn instruction, in whom all virtues have the double strength of cruel trial and of constant practice; whose soul is spotless and without reproach, whose motherhood knew only grief, whose married love knew only bitterness; on whom life smiled for a brief time only, but for whom heaven reserves a palm, the reward of resignation and of loving-kindness under sorrow.  Ah! does she not even triumph over Job in never murmuring?  Can you wonder that her words are so powerful, her old age so young, her soul so communicative, her glance so convincing?  She has obtained extraordinary powers in dealing with sufferers, for she has suffered all things.”

“She is the living image of Charity!” cried Godefroid, fervently.  “Can I ever be one of you?”

“You must first endure the tests, and above all BELIEVE!” said the old man, gently.  “So long as you have no faith, so long as you have not absorbed into your heart and mind the divine meaning of Saint Paul’s epistle upon Charity, you cannot share our work.”

SECOND EPISODE

THE INITIATE

XI

THE POLICE OF THE GOOD GOD

Like evil, good is contagious.  Therefore when Madame de la Chanterie’s lodger had lived in that old and silent house for some months after the worthy Alain’s last confidence, which gave him the deepest respect for the religious lives of those among whom his was cast, he experienced that well-being of the soul which comes of a regulated existence, gentle customs, and harmony of nature in those who surround us.  At the end of four months, during which time Godefroid heard neither a loud voice nor an argument, he could not remember that he had ever been, if not as happy, at least as tranquil and contented.  He now judged soundly of the world, seeing it from afar.  At last, the desire he had felt for months to be a sharer in the work of these mysterious persons became a passion.  Without being great philosophers we can all understand the force which passions acquire in solitude.

Thus it happened that one day—­a day made solemn by the power of the spirit within him—­Godefroid again went up to see the good old Alain, him whom Madame de la Chanterie called her “lamb,” the member of the community who seemed to Godefroid the least imposing, the most approachable member of the fraternity, intending to obtain from him some definite light on the conditions of the sacred work to which these brothers of God were dedicated.  The allusions made to a period of trial seemed to imply an initiation, which he was now desirous of receiving.  His curiosity had not been satisfied by what the venerable old man had already told him as to the causes which led to the work of Madame de la Chanterie; he wanted to know more.