"
"So help me God--it is my prayer!" Fra Paolo answered. "And for thee and
me alike, however we may differ, there is this other helpful word in
that same blessed book which they will not let the starving people
share--'God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that
ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,
that ye may be able to bear it.' May God be with thee!"
"And Christ and the Holy Mother have thee in their keeping!" Fra
Francesco answered, with a yearning look in his loving face, in a tone
that lingered on the sweet word "mother" and almost seemed to hint of an
omission, as they clasped hands and parted.
This was the last time they had had speech together; but on the evening
of the day when Venice had declared her loyalty to her Prince by
unanimous vote, there was much animated talk of the matter in the
refectory. Fra Francesco had joined the group and listened silently. But
as the call to _compline_ rang through the cloisters and the friars
scattered, he had turned his face to Fra Paolo, who read thereon a very
passion of love, reproach, and pain which he could not forget.
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