Поющие в терновнике

           Butthelove,doesitendangeryourlovefortheChurch?"

           "No.ItwasfortheChurchIforsookher,thatIalwayswillforsakeher.I’vegonesofarbeyondher,andIcannevergobackagain."

           "SoatlastIunderstandthesadness!DearRalph,itisnotasbadasyouthink,trulyitisnot.Youwilllivetodogreatgoodformanypeople,youwillbelovedbymanypeople.Andshe,havingthelovewhichiscontainedinsuchanold,fragrantmemoryasthis,willneverwant.Becauseyoukeptthelovealongsidetherose."

           "Idon’tthinksheunderstandsatall."

           "Oh,yes.Ifyouhavelovedherthus,thensheiswomanenoughtounderstand.Otherwiseyouwouldhaveforgottenher,andabandonedthisreliclongsince."

           "Therehavebeentimeswhenonlyhoursonmykneeshavestoppedmefromleavingmypost,goingtoher."

           TheArchbishopeasedhimselfoutofhischairandcametokneelbesidehisfriend,thisbeautifulmanwhomhelovedashehadlovedfewthingsotherthanhisGodandhisChurch,whichtohimwereindivisible.

           "Youwillnotleave,Ralph,andyouknowitwell.YoubelongtotheChurch,youalwayshaveandyoualwayswill.Thevocationforyouisatrueone.Weshallpraynow,andIshalladdtheRosetomyprayersfortherestofmylife.OurDearLordsendsusmanygriefsandmuchpainduringourprogresstoeternallife.Wemustlearntobearit,Iasmuchasyou."

           ***

           AttheendofAugustMeggiegotaletterfromLuketosayhewasinTownsvilleHospitalwithWeil’sdisease,butthathewasinnodangerandwouldbeoutsoon.