I will not hasten the time by a day. Thou must
prove thy vocation, and then thou mayst join the brotherhood of
sweet Saint Francis."

"Tell me, my father, how old was the saint when he renounced the
world? Did Francis ever love it?"

"He did, indeed. He was called 'Le debonair Francois.' He loved the
Provencal songs, and indeed learned to sing his sweet melodies to
Christ after the mode of those songs of earthly love. His eyes
danced with life, he went singing about all day long, and through
the glorious Italian night. But even then he loved his neighbour.
No beggar asked of him in vain. Liberalis et hilaris was Francis."

"And did he ever fight?"

"Yes. When a mere lad, he lay a year in prison at Perugia, having
been taken captive in fighting for his own city Assisi. But even
then he was the joy of his fellow captives, from his bright
disposition."

"When did he give up all this?"

"Not till he was ten years older than thou art. One night he was
made king of the feast, at a drinking bout, and went forth, at the
head of his companions, to pour forth their songs into the sweet
Italian moonlight. A sudden hush fell upon him.

"'What ails thee, Francis?' cried the rest. 'Art thinking of a
wife?'

"'Yes,' he said. 'Of one more noble, more pure, than you can
conceive, any of you.'"

"What did he mean?"

"The yearning for the life which is hid with Christ in God had
seized him. It was the last of his revels.

"'Love set my heart on fire,'

"He used afterwards to sing. It was at that moment the fire
kindled."

"I wish it would set mine on fire."

"Perhaps the fire is already kindled."

"Nay, think of last night."

"And what makes thee loathe last night? Other young men do not
loathe such follies."

"Shame, I suppose."

"And what gives thee that divine shame? It is not thine own sinful
nature. There is something in thee which is not of self."

"You think so? Oh, you think so?"

"Indeed I do."

"Then you give me fresh hope."

"Since you ask it of a fellow worm."

"But what can I do? I want to be up and doing."

"Keep out of temptation. Avoid the causeway after vespers.
Meanwhile I will enrol thy name as an associate of the Order, and
thou shalt go forth as Francis did, while not yet quite separated
from the world. Do you know the story of the leper?"

"Tell it me."

"One day the saint, not yet a saint, only trying to be one, met one
of these wretched beings. At first he shuddered. Then, re