ich seemed to say: Is this a further test? "I pray that all may
do their duty throughout the kingdom."

This remark, full of deep meaning, was still further emphasized by a
tone of utterance, which proved that in 1829 this priest, as grand in
thought as he was noble in humility of conduct, and who subordinated his
thoughts to those of his superiors, saw clearly into the destinies of
both church and monarchy.

When the two afflicted women came the young abbe, very impatient to get
back to Limoges, left the parsonage to see if the horses were harnessed.
A few moments later he returned to say that all was ready. All four then
started under the eyes of the whole population of Montegnac, which was
gathered in the roadway before the post-house. The mother and sister
kept silence. The two priests, seeing rocks ahead in many subjects,
could neither talk indifferently nor allow themselves to be cheerful.
While seeking for some neutral subject the carriage crossed the plain,
the aspect of which dreary region seemed to influence the duration of
their melancholy silence.

"How came you to adopt the ecclesiastical profession?" asked the Abbe
Gabriel, suddenly, with an impulsive curiosity which seized him as soon
as the carriage turned into the high-road.

"I did not look upon the priesthood as a profession," replied the
rector, simply. "I cannot understand how a man can become a priest for
any other reason than the undefinable power of vocation. I know that
many men have served in the Lord's vineyard who have previously worn
out their hearts in the service of passion; some have loved hopelessly,
others have had their love betrayed; men have lost the flower of their
lives in burying a precious wife or an adored mistress; some have been
disgusted with social life at a period when uncertainty hovers over
everything, even over feelings, and doubt mocks tender certainties by
calling them beliefs; others abandon politics at a period when power
seems to be an expiation and when the governed regard obedience as
fatality. Many leave a society without banners; where opposing forces
only unite to overthrow good. I do not think that any man would give
himself to God from a covetous motive. Some men have looked upon the
priesthood as a means of regenerating our country; but, according to
my poor lights, a priest-patriot is a meaningless thing. The priest can
only belong to God. I did not wish to offer our Father--who nevertheless
accepts all