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           "Oh!Ithoughtyouwereanordinarypriest!"

           "Iamanordinarypriest.Nothingmore."

           "I’llstrikeabargainwithyou!"saidtheboy,hiseyessparkling."Youprayforme.Father,andifIlivelongenoughtogetwhatIwant,I’llcomebacktoRometoletyouseewhatyourprayershavedone."

           Theblueeyessmiledtenderly."Allright,it’sabargain.Andwhenyoucome,I’lltellyouwhatIthinkhappenedtomyprayers."Hegotup."Staythere,littlepolitician.I’llfindyousomethingtoeat."

           Theytalkeduntildawnglowedroundthedomesandcampaniles,andthewingsofpigeonswhirredoutsidethewindow.ThentheArchbishopconductedhisguestthroughthepublicroomsofthepalace,watchinghisawewithdelight,andlethimoutintothecool,freshair.Thoughhedidn’tknowit,theboywiththesplendidnamewasindeedtogotoRussia,carryingwithhimamemoryoddlysweetandreassuring:thatinRome,inOurLord’sownChurch,amanwasprayingforhimeveryday,byname.

           ***

           BythetimetheNinthwasreadytobeshippedtoNewGuinea,itwasalloverbarthemoppingup.Disgruntled,themostelitedivisioninAustralianmilitaryhistorycouldonlyhopetheremightbefurtherglorytoamasssomewhereelse,chasingtheJapanesebackupthroughIndonesia.GuadalcanalhaddefeatedallJapanesehopesinthedriveforAustralia.Andyet,liketheGermans,theyyieldedbitterly,grudgingly.