When Father Monies looked in, just before daylight, Father Damon was still sleeping, but tossing restlessly and muttering incoherently; and he did not arouse him for the early devotions.

It was very late when he awoke, and opened his eyes to a confused sense of some great calamity.  Father Monies was standing by the bedside with a cup of coffee.

“You have had a good sleep.  Now take this, and then you may get up.  The breakfast will wait for you.”

Father Damon started up.  “Why didn’t you call me?  I am late for the mission.”

“Oh, Bendes has gone down long ago.  You must take it easy; rest today.  You’ll be all right.  You haven’t a bit of fever.”

“But,” still declining the coffee, “before I break my fast, I have something to say to you.  I—­”

“Get some strength first.  Besides, I have an engagement.  I cannot wait.  Pull yourself together; I may not be back before evening.”

So it was fated that he should be left still with himself.  After his coffee he dressed slowly, as if it were not he, but some one else going through this familiar duty, as if it were scarcely worth while to do anything any more.  And then, before attempting his breakfast, he went into the little oratory, and remained long in the attitude of prayer, trying to realize what he was and what he had done.  He prayed for himself, for help, for humility, and he prayed for her; he had been used of late to pray for her guidance, now he prayed that she might be sustained.

When he came forth it was in a calmer frame of mind.  It was all clear now.  When Father Monies returned he would confess, and take his penance, and resolutely resume his life.  He understood life better now.  Perhaps this blow was needed for his spiritual pride.

It was a mild winter day, bright, and with a touch of summer, such as sometimes gets shuffled into our winter calendar.  The book that he took up did not interest him; he was in no mood for the quiet meditation that it usually suggested to him, and he put it down and strolled out, directing his steps farther up the height, and away from the suburban stir.  As he went on there was something consonant with his feelings in the bare wintry landscape, and when he passed the ridge and walked along the top of the river slope, he saw, as it seemed to him he had not seen it before, that lovely reach of river, the opposite wooded heights, the noble pass above, the peacefulness and invitation of nature.  Had he a new sense to see all this?  There was a softness in the distant outline, villas peeped out here and there, carriages were passing in the road below, there was a cheerful life in the stream—­there was a harmony in the aspect of nature and humanity from this height.  Was not the world beautiful? and human emotion, affection, love, were they alien to the Divine intention?