se or a farewell.

As the Archbishop left the Countess's chamber, he beckoned Amphillis
into the corridor.

"I tarry not," said he, "for I can work no good now. This is not the
time. A stricken heart hath none ears. Leave her be, and leave her to
God. I go to pray Him to speak to her that comfort which she may
receive alone from Him. None other can do her any help. To-morrow,
maybe--when the vexed brain hath slept, and gentle time hath somewhat
dulled the first sharp edge of her cruel sorrow--then I may speak and be
heard. But now she is in that valley of the shadow, where no voice can
reach her save that which once said, `Lazarus, come forth!' and which
the dead shall hear in their graves at the last day."

"God comfort her, poor Lady!" said Amphillis. "Ay, God comfort her!"
And the Archbishop passed on.

He made no further attempt to enter the invalid chamber until the
evening of the next day, when he came in very softly, after a word with
Perrote--no part of any house was ever closed against a priest--and sat
down by the sufferer. She lay much as he had left her. He offered no
greeting, but took out his Evangelistarium from the pocket of his
cassock, and began to read in a low, calm voice.

"`The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, for He hath anointed Me; He hath
sent Me to evangelise the poor, to heal the contrite in heart, to preach
liberty to the captives and sight to the blind, to set the bruised at
liberty, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of
retribution.'" [Luke four, verses 18, 19, Vulgate version.]

There was no sound in answer. The Archbishop turned over a few leaves.

"`Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy-laden, and I will
refresh you.' [Matthew nine, verse 28.] `And God shall dry all tears
from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor
clamour, nor shall there be any more pain.' [Revelations twenty-one,
verse 4.] `Trouble not your heart: believe in God, and believe in Me.'
`Peace I bequeath to you, My peace I give to you: not as the world
giveth, give I to you. Trouble not your heart, neither be it afraid.'
[John fourteen, verses 1, 27.] `Whom the Lord loveth, He chastiseth;
and whippeth also every son whom He receiveth.'" [Hebrews twelve, verse
6.]

He read or quoted from memory, as passages occurred to him. When he had
reached this point he made a pause. A deep sigh answered him, but no
words.

"`And he looked round about on