III
Dayshowedtheocean’ssurfacenolongerglassy，butlyinglikeamirrorbreathedupon；andtherebetweentheshortheadlandscameasail，grayandplainagainsttheflatwater。Thepriestwatchedthroughhisglasses，andsawthegradualsungrowstronguponthecanvasofthebarkentine。
Themessagefromhisworldwasathand，yetto—dayhescarcelycaredsomuch。Sittinginhisgardenyesterday，hecouldneverhaveimaginedsuchachange。Buthisheartdidnothailthebarkentineasusual。Books，music，palepaper，andprint——thiswasallthatwascomingtohim，someofitssavorhadgone；forthesirenvoiceofLifehadbeenspeakingwithhimfacetoface，andinhisspirit，deepdown，theloveoftheworldwasrestlesslyansweringit。YoungGastonshowedmoreeagernessthanthePadreoverthisarrivalofthevesselthatmightbebringingTrovatoreinthenickoftime。Nowhewouldhavethechance，beforehetookhisleave，tohelprehearsethenewmusicwiththechoir。Hewouldbeamissionary，too:aperfectlynewexperience。
\"AndyoustillforgiveVerdithesinsofhisyouth？\"hesaidtohishost。
\"Iwonderifyoucouldforgivemine？\"
\"Verdihaslefthisbehindhim，\"retortedthePadre。
\"ButIamonlytwenty—five！\"exclaimedGaston，pathetically。
\"Ah，don’tgoawaysoon！\"pleadedtheexile。Itwasthefirstunconcealedcomplaintthathadescapedhim，andhefeltinstantshame。
ButGastonwastoomuchelatedwiththeenjoymentofeachnewdaytocomprehendthePadre’ssoul。Theshaftsofanother’spainmighthardlypiercethebrightarmorofhisgaiety。Hemistookthepriest’sentreaty，foranxietyabouthisownhappyspirit。
\"Stayhereunderyourcare？\"heasked。\"Itwoulddomenogood，Padre。
Temptationsticksclosertomethanabrother！\"andhegavethatlaughofhiswhichhaddisarmedsevererjudgesthanhishost。\"BynextweekI
shouldhaveintroducedsomesinorotherintoyourbeautifulGardenofIgnorancehere。ItwillbemuchsaferforyourflockifIgoandjointheotherserpentsatSanFrancisco。\"
SoonafterbreakfastthePadrehadhistwomulessaddled，andheandhisguestsetforthdownthehillstogethertotheshore。And，beneaththespellandconfidenceofpleasant，slowridingandthelovelinessofeverything，theyoungmantalkedfreelyofhimself。
\"And，seriously，\"saidhe，\"ifImissednothingelseatSantaYsabel，I
shouldlongfor——howshallIsayit？——forinsecurity，fordanger，andofallkinds——notmerelydangertothebody。Withinthesewalls，beneaththesesacredbells，youlivetoosafeforamanlikeme。\"
\"Toosafe！\"TheseechoedwordsuponthelipsofthepalePadrewereawhispertoolight，toodeep，forGaston’sheedlessear。
\"Why，\"theyoungmanpursuedinaspiritthatwasbuthalflevity，\"thoughIyieldoftentotemptation，attimesIhaveresistedit，andhereIshouldmisstheverychancetoresist。YourgardencouldneverbeEdenforme，becausetemptationisabsentfromit。\"
\"Absent！\"Stilllighter，stilldeeper，wasthiswhisperthatthePadrebreathed。
\"Imustfindlife，\"exclaimedGaston，\"andmyfortuneatthemines，I
hope。Iamnotabadfellow，Father。YoucaneasilyguessallthethingsIdo。Ihavenever，tomyknowledge，harmedanyone。Ididn’teventrytokillmyadversaryinanaffairofhonor。Igavehimamereflesh—wound，andbythistimehemustbequiterecovered。Hewasmyfriend。Butashecamebetweenme——\"
Gastonstopped，andthePadre，lookingkeenlyathim，sawtheviolencethathehadnoticedinchurchpasslikeaflameovertheyoungman’shandsomeface。
\"That’snothingdishonorable，\"saidGaston，answeringthepriest’slook。
Andthen，becausethislookmadehimnotquiteathisease:\"Perhapsapriestmightfeelobligedtosayitwasdishonorable。Sheandherfatherwere——amanowesnofidelitybeforeheis——butyoumightsaythathadbeendishonorable。\"
\"Ihavenotsaidso，myson。\"
\"Ididwhateverygentlemanwoulddo。\"insistedGaston。
\"Andthatisoftenwrong！\"saidthePadre，gentlyandgravely。\"ButI’mnotyourconfessor。\"
\"No，\"saidGaston，lookingdown。\"Anditisallover。Itwillnotbeginagain。SinceleavingNewOrleansIhavetraveledaninnocentjourneystraighttoyou。AndwhenImakemyfortuneIshallbeinapositiontoreturnand——\"
\"Claimthepressedflowrer？\"suggestedthePadre。Hedidnotsmile。
\"Ah，yourememberhowthosethingsare！\"saidGaston:andhelaughedandblushed。
\"Yes，\"saidthePadre，lookingattheanchoredbarkentine，\"Irememberhowthosethingsare。\"
Forawhilethevesselanditscargoandthelandedmenandvariousbusinessandconversationsoccupiedthem。Butthefreightforthemissiononceseento，therewasnotmuchelsetodetainthem。
Thebarkentinewasonlyacoasterlikemanyotherswhichhadbeguntofilltheseaalittlemoreoflateyears，andpresentlyhostandguestwereridinghomeward。Sidebysidetheyrode，companionstotheeye，butwideapartinmood；withintheturbulentyoungfigureofGastondweltaspiritthatcouldnotbemoreatease，whilerevoltwassteadilykindlingbeneaththeschooledandplacidmaskofthePadre。
Yetstillthestrangenessofhissituationinsucharemote，resourcelessplacecamebackasamarvelintotheyoungman’slivelymind。Twentyyearsinprison，hethought，andhardlyawareofit！Andheglancedatthesilentpriest。Amansoevidentlyfondofmusic，oftheaters，oftheworld，towhompressedflowershadmeantsomethingonce——andnowcontentedtobleachuponthesewastes！Notevendesirousofabriefholiday，butfindinganoldorganandsomeoldoperasenoughrecreation！
\"Itishisage，Isuppose，\"thoughtGaston。Andthenthenotionofhimselfwhenheshouldbesixtyoccurredtohim，andhespoke。
\"Doyouknow，Idonotbelieve，\"saidhe，\"thatIshouldeverreachsuchcontentmentasyours。\"
\"Perhapsyouwill，\"saidPadreIgnacio，inalowvoice。
\"Never！\"declaredtheyouth。\"Itcomesonlytothefew，Iamsure。\"
\"Yes。Onlytothefew，\"murmuredthePadre。
\"Iamcertainthatitmustbeagreatpossession，\"Gastoncontinued；
\"andyet——andyet——dearme！lifeisasplendidthing！\"
\"Thereareseveralwaystoliveit，\"saidthePadre。
\"Onlyoneforme！\"criedGaston。\"Action，men，women，things——tobethere，tobeknown，toplayapart，tositinthefrontseats；tohavepeopletelloneanother，’TheregoesGastonVillere！’andtodeserveone’sprominence。Why，ifIwasPadreofSantaYsabeldelMarfortwentyyears——
no！foroneyear——doyouknowwhatIshouldhavedone？Somedayitwouldhavebeentoomuchforme。Ishouldhaveleftthesesavagestoapastornearertheirownlevel，andIshouldhaveriddendownthiscanyonuponmymule，andsteppedonboardthebarkentine，andgonebacktomypropersphere。Youwillunderstand，sir，thatIamfarfromventuringtomakeanypersonalcomment。Iamonlythinkingwhataworldofdifferenceliesbetweennaturesthatcanfeelasalikeaswedouponsomanysubjects。Why，notsinceleavingNewOrleanshaveImetanyonewithwhomIcouldtalk，exceptoftheweatherandthebruteinterestscommontousall。Thatsuchaoneasyoushouldbehereislikeadream。\"
\"Butitisnotadream，\"saidthePadre。
\"And，sir——pardonmeifIdosaythis——areyounotwastedatSantaYsabeldelMar？Ihaveseenthepriestsattheothermissions。Theyare——
thesortofgoodmenthatIexpected。Butareyouneededtosavesuchsoulsasthese？\"
\"Thereisnoaristocracyofsouls，\"saidthePadre，againwhispering。
\"Butthebodyandthemind！\"criedGaston。\"MyGod，aretheynothing？Doyouthinkthattheyaregiventousfornothingbutatrap？Youcannotteachsuchadoctrinewithyourlibrarythere。Andhowaboutallthecultivatedmenandwomenawayfromwhosequickeningsocietythebrightestofusgrownumb？Youhaveheldout。Butwillitbeforlong？Areyounevertosaveanysoulsofyourownkind？Arenottwentyyearsofmescladosenough？No，no！\"finishedyoungGaston，hotwithhisunforeseeneloquence；\"Ishouldridedownsomemorningandtakethebarkentine。\"
PadreIgnaciowassilentforaspace。
\"Ihavenotoffendedyou？\"askedtheyoungman。
\"No。Anythingbutthat。YouaresurprisedthatIshould——choose——tostayhere。PerhapsyoumayhavewonderedhowIcametobehereatall？\"
\"Ihadnotintendedanyimpertinent——\"
\"Ohno。Putsuchanideaoutofyourhead，myson。YoumayrememberthatIwasgoingtomakeyouaconfessionaboutmyoperas。Letussitdowninthisshade。\"
Sotheypicketedthemulesnearthestreamandsatdown。
IV
Youhaveseen，\"beganPadreIgnacio，\"whatsortofamanI——wasonce。
Indeed，itseemsverystrangetomyselfthatyoushouldhavebeenherenottwenty—fourhoursyet，andknowsomuchofme。Fortherehascomenooneelseatall\"——thePadrepausedamomentandmasteredtheunsteadinessthathehadfeltapproachinginhisvoice——\"therehasbeennooneelsetowhomIhavetalkedsofreely。InmyearlydaysIhadnothoughtofbeingapriest。Byparentsdestinedmeforadiplomaticcareer。Therewasplentyofmoneyand——andalltherestofit；forbyinheritancecametometheacquaintanceofmanypeoplewhosenamesyouwouldbelikelytohaveheardof。Cities，peopleoffashion，artists——thewholeofitwasmyelementandmychoice；andby—and—byImarried，notonlywhereitwasdesirable，butwhereIloved。ThenforthefirsttimeDeathlaidhisstaffuponmyenchantment，andIunderstoodmanythingsthathadbeenonlywordstomehitherto。Tohavebeenahusbandforayear，andafatherforamoment，andinthatmomenttoloseall——thisunblindedme。Lookingback，itseemedtomethatIhadneverdoneanythingexceptformyselfallmydays。Ilefttheworld。InduetimeIbecameapriestandlivedinmyowncountry。Butmyworldlyexperienceandmyseculareducationhadgiventomyopinionsaturntooliberalfortheplacewheremyworkwaslaid。Iwassoonadvisedconcerningthisbythoseinauthorityoverme。AndsincetheycouldnotchangemeandIcouldthem，yetwishedtoworkandtoteach，theNewWorldwassuggested，andI
volunteeredtogivetherestofmylifetomissions。Itwassoonfoundthatsomeonewasneededhere，andforthislittleplaceIsailed，andtothesehumblepeopleIhavededicatedmyservice。Theyarepastoralcreaturesofthesoil。Theirvineyardandcattledaysareapttobelikethesunandstormaroundthem——strongalikeintheirevilandintheirgood。Alltheiryearstheyliveaschildren——childrenwithmen’spassionsgiventothemlikedeadlyweapons，unabletomeasuretheharmtheirimpulsesmaybring。Hence，evenintheircrimes，theirheartswillgenerallyopensoontotheonegreatkeyoflove，whilecivilizationmakeslockswhichthatkeycannotalwaysfitatthefirstturn。Andcomingtoknowthis，\"saidPadreIgnacio，fixinghiseyessteadilyuponGaston，\"youwillunderstandhowgreataprivilegeitistohelpsuchpeople，andhowthesenseofsomethingaccomplished——underGod——shouldbringContentmentwithRenunciation。\"
\"Yes，\"saidGastonVillere。Then，thinkingofhimself，\"Icanunderstanditinamanlikeyou。\"
\"Donotspeakofmeatall！\"exclaimedthePadre，almostpassionately。
\"ButprayHeaventhatyoumayfindthethingyourselfsomeday——
ContentmentwithRenunciation——andneverletitgo。\"
\"Amen！\"saidGaston，strangelymoved。
\"Thatisthewholeofmystory，\"thepriestcontinued，withnomoreoftherecentstressinhisvoice。\"AndnowIhavetalkedtoyouaboutmyselfquiteenough。Butyoumusthavemyconfession。\"Hehadnowresumedentirelyhishalf—playfultone。\"Iwasjustalittlemistaken，yousee——
tooself—reliant，perhaps——whenIsupposed，inmyfirstmissionaryardor，thatIcouldgetonwithoutanyremembranceoftheworldatall。IfoundthatIcouldnot。AndsoIhavetaughttheoldoperastomychoir——suchpartsofthemasarewithinourcompassandsuitableforworship。AndcertainofmyfriendsstillaliveathomearegoodenoughtorememberthistasteofmineandtosendmeeachyearsomeofthenewmusicthatIshouldneverhearofotherwise。Thenwestudythesethingsalso。Andalthoughourorganisamiserableaffair，Felipemanagesverycleverlytomakeitdo。Andwhilethevoicesaresingingtheseoperas，especiallytheoldones，whatharmisthereifsometimesthepriestisthinkingofsomethingelse？Sothere’smyconfession！Andnow，whetherTrovatoreiscomeornot，IshallnotallowyoutoleaveusuntilyouhavetaughtallyouknowofittoFelipe。\"
Thenewopera，however，haddulyarrived。AndasheturneditspagesPadreIgnaciowasquicktoseizeatonceuponthemusicthatcouldbetakenintohischurch。Someofitwasreadyfitted。BythatafternoonFelipeandhischoircouldhaverendered\"Ah！sel’errort’ingombra\"
withoutsliporfalter。
ThosewerestrangerehearsalsofIlTrovatoreuponthisCaliforniashore。
ForthePadrelookedtoGastontosaywhentheywenttoofastortooslow，andtocorrecttheiremphasis。Andsinceitwashot，thelittleErardpianowascarriedeachdayoutintothemissiongarden。There，inthecloistersamongthejessamine，theorangeblossoms，theoleanders，inthepresenceoftheroundyellowhillsandthebluetriangleofsea，theMisererewasslowlylearned。TheMexicansandIndiansgathered，swarthyandblack—haired，aroundthetinklinginstrumentthatFelipeplayed；andpresidingoverthemwereyoungGastonandthepalePadre，walkingupanddownthepaths，beatingtimeorsingingnowonepartandnowanother。AndsoitwasthatthewildcattleontheuplandswouldhearTrovatorehummedbyapassingvaquero，whilethesamemelodywasfillingthestreetsofthefar—offworld。
ForthreedaysGastonVillereremainedatSantaYsabeldelMar；andthoughnotawordofrestlessnesscamefromhim，hishostcouldreadSanFranciscoandthegold—minesinhiscountenance。No，theyoungmancouldnothavestayedherefortwentyyears！AndthePadreforboreurginghisguesttoextendhisvisit。
\"Buttheworldissmall，\"theguestdeclaredatparting。\"Somedayitwillnotbeabletospareyouanylonger。Andthenwearesuretomeet。
Butyoushallhearfrommesoon，atanyrate。\"
Again，asuponthefirstevening，thetwoexchangedafewcourtesies，moregracefulandparticularthanwe，whohavenottime，andfightnoduels，findworthaman’swhileatthepresentday。Forduelsaregone，whichisaverygoodthing，andwiththemacertaincarefulpoliteness，whichisapity；butthatisthewayintheeternalprofitandloss。SoyoungGastonrodenorthwardoutofthemission，backtotheworldandhisfortune；andthePadrestoodwatchingthedustaftertheriderhadpassedfromsight。Thenhewentintohisroomwithadrawnface。Butappearancesatleasthadbeenkeptuptotheend；theyouthwouldneverknowoftheelderman’sunrest。
V
TemptationhadarrivedwithGaston，butwasdestinedtomakealongerstayatSantaYsabeldelMar。Yetitwasperhapsaweekbeforethepriestknewthisguestwascometoabidewithhim。Theguestcouldbediscreet，couldwithdraw，wasnotatfirstimportunate。
Sailawayonthebarkentine？Awildnotion，tobesure！althoughfitenoughtoenterthebrainofsuchayoungscape—grace。ThePadreshookhisheadandsmiledaffectionatelywhenhethoughtofGastonVillere。Theyouth’shandsome，recklesscountenancewouldshineout，smiling，inhismemory，andherepeatedAuber’soldremark，\"IsitthegoodLord，orisitmerelythedevil，thatalwaysmakesmehaveaweaknessforrascals？\"
Sailawayonthebarkentine！Imaginetakingleaveofthepeoplehere——ofFelipe！Inwhatwordsshouldhetelltheboytogoonindustriouslywithhismusic？No，thiswasnotimaginable！Themerepartingalonewouldmakeitforeverimpossibletothinkofsuchathing。\"Andthen，\"hesaidtohimselfeachnewmorning，whenhelookedoutattheocean，\"Ihavegiventothemmylife。Onedoesnottakebackagift。\"
Picturesofhisdeparturebegantoshineandmeltinhisdriftingfancy。
HesawhimselfexplainingtoFelipethatnowhispresencewaswantedelsewhere；thatthanwouldcomeasuccessortotakecareofSantaYsabel—
—ayoungerman，moreuseful，andabletovisitsickpeopleatadistance。
\"ForIamoldnow。Ishouldnotbelonghasinanycase。\"Hestoppedandpressedhishandstogether；hehadcaughthisTemptationintheveryact。
NowhesatstaringathisTemptation’sface，closetohim，whiletheninthetriangletwoshipswentsailingby。
OnemorningFelipetoldhimthatthebarkentinewashereonitsreturnvoyagesouth。\"Indeed。\"saidthePadre，coldly。\"Thethingsarereadytogo，Ithink。\"Forthevesselcalledformailandcertainboxesthatthemissionsentaway。FelipelefttheroominwonderatthePadre’smanner。Butthepriestwaslaughingsecretlytoseehowlittleitwastohimwherethebarkentinewas，orwhetheritshouldbecomingorgoing。
Butintheafternoon，athispiano，hefoundhimselfsaying，\"Othershipscallhere，atanyrate。\"Andthenforthefirsttimeheprayedtobedeliveredfromhisthoughts。Yetpresentlyhelefthisseatandlookedoutofthewindowforasightofthebarkentine；butitwasgone。
Theseasonofthewine—makingpassed，andthepreservingofallthefruitsthatthemissionfieldsgrew。Lotionsandmedicineswasdistilledfromgardenherbs。Perfumewasmanufacturedfromthepetalsofflowersandcertainspices，andpresentsofitdespatchedtoSanFernandoandVentura，andtofriendsatotherplaces；forthePadrehadaspecialrecepit。Asthetimeranon，twoorthreevisitorspassedanightwithhim；andpresentlytherewasawordatvariousmissionsthatPadreIgnaciohadbeguntoshowhisyears。AtSantaYsabeldelMartheywhispered，\"ThePadreisnotwell。\"Yetherodeagreatdealoverthehillsbyhimself，anddownthecanyonveryoften，stoppingwherehehadsatwithGaston，tositaloneandlookupanddown，nowatthehillsabove，andnowattheoceanbelow。Amonghisparishionershehadcertaintroublestosoothe，certainwoundstoheal；ahomefromwhichhewasabletodrivejealousy；agirlwhomhebadeherloversetright。Butallsaid，\"ThePadreisunwell。\"AndFelipetoldthemthatthemusicseemednothingtohimanymore；heneveraskedforhisDixitDominusnowadays。
Thenforashorttimehewasreallyinbed，feverishwiththetwovoicesthatspoketohimwithoutceasing。\"Youhavegivenyourlife，\"saidonevoice。\"And，therefore，\"saidtheother，\"haveearnedtherighttogohomeanddie。\"\"YouarewinningbetterrewardsintheserviceofGod，\"
saidthefirstvoice。\"Godcanbebetterservedinotherplaces，\"
answeredthesecond。AshelaylisteninghesawSevilleagain，andthetreesofAranhal，wherehehadbeenborn。Thewindwasblowingthroughthem，andintheirbrancheshecouldhearthenightingales。\"Empty！
Empty！\"hesaid，aloud。AndhelayfortwodaysandnightshearingthewindandthenightingalesinthefartreesofAranhal。ButFelipe，watching，onlyheardthePadrecryingthroughthehours，\"Empty！Empty！\"
Thenthewindinthetreesdieddown，andthePadrecouldgetoutofbed，andsoonbeinthegarden。Butthevoiceswithinhimstilltalkedallthewhileashesatwatchingthesailswhentheypassedbetweentheheadlands。Theirwords，fallingforeverthesameway，beathisspiritsore，likeblowsuponfleshalreadybruised。Ifhecouldonlychangewhattheysaid，hewouldrest。
\"HasthePadreanymallforSantaBarbara？\"askedFelipe。\"Theshipboundsouthwardshouldbehereto—morrow。\"
\"Iwillattendtoit，\"saidthepriest，notmoving。AndFelipestoleaway。
AtFelipe’swordsthevoiceshadstopped，asaclockfinishesstriking。
Silence，strainedlikeexpectation，filledthePadre’ssoul。Butinplaceofthevoicescameoldsightsofhomeagain，thewavingtreesatAranhal；
thenitwouldbeRachelforamoment，declaimingtragedywhileahousefuloffacesthatheknewbynamewatchedher；andthroughallthepanoramarangthepleasantlaughofGaston。ForawhileintheeveningthePadresatathisErardplayingTrovatore。Later，inhissleeplessbedhelay，sayingnowandthen:\"Todieathome！SurelyImaybegrantedatleastthis。\"Andhelistenedfortheinnervoices。Buttheywerenotspeakinganymore，andtheblackholeofsilencegrewmoredreadfultohimthantheirarguments。Thenthedawncameinathiswindow，andhelaywatchingitsgraygrowwarmintocolor，untilsuddenlyhesprangfromhisbedandlookedatthesea。Blueitlay，sapphire—huedanddancingwithpointsofgold，lovelyandluringasacharm；andoveritstrianglethesouth—boundshipwasapproaching。PeoplewereonboardwhoinafewweekswouldbesailingtheAtlantic，whilehewouldstandherelookingoutofthissamewindow。\"MercifulGod！\"hecried，sinkingonhisknees。\"HeavenlyFather，Thouseestthisevilinmyheart！Thouknowestthatmyweakhandcannotpluckitout！Mystrengthisbreaking，andstillThoumakestmyburdenheavierthanIcanbear。\"Hestopped，breathlessandtrembling。
Thesamevisionswasflittingacrosshisclosedeyes；thesamesilencegapedlikeadrycraterinhissoul。\"Thereisnohelpinearthorheaven，\"hesaid，veryquietly；andhedressedhimself。
VIItwasstillsoearlythatfewoftheIndianswerestirring，andoneofthesesaddledthePadre’smule。Felipewasnotyetawake，andforamomentitcameinthepriest’smindtoopentheboy’sdoorsoftly，lookathimoncemore，andcomeaway。Butthishedidnot，noreventakeafarewellglanceatthechurchandorgan。Hebadenothingfarewell，but，turninghisbackuponhisroomandhisgarden，rodedownthecanyon。
Thevessellayatanchor，andsomeonehadlandedfromhaandwastalkingwithothermenontheshore。Seeingthepriestslowlycoming，thisstrangerapproachedtomeethim。
\"Youareconnectedwiththemissionhere？\"heinquired。
\"I——am。\"
\"PerhapsitiswithyouthatGastonVillerestopped？\"
\"TheyoungmanfromNewOrleans？Yes。IamPadreIgnacio。\"
\"Thenyou’llsavemeajourney。Ipromisedhimtodelivertheseintoyourownhands。\"
Thestrangergavethemtohim。
\"Abagofgold—dust，\"heexplained，\"andaletter。Iwroteitathisdictationwhilehewasdying。Helivedhardlyanhourafterward。\"
Thestrangerbowedhisheadatthestrickencrywhichhisnewselicitedfromthepriest，who，afterafewmoments’vainefforttospeak，openedtheletterandread:
MydearFriend，——Itisthroughnoman’sfaultbutminethatIhavecometothis。Ihavehadplentyofluck，andlatelyhavebeencountingthedaysuntilIshouldreturnhome。ButlastnightheavynewsfromNewOrleansreachedme，andItorethepressedflowertopieces。UnderthefirstsmartandhumiliationofbrokenfaithIwasrendereddesperate，andpickedaneedlessquarrel。ThankGod，itisIwhohavethepunishment。Bydearfriend，asIliehere，leavingaworldthatnomaneverlovedmore，Ihavecometounderstandyou。Foryouandyourmissionhavebeenmuchinmythoughts。Itisstrangehowgoodcanbedone，notatthetimewhenitisintended，butafterward；andyouhavedonethisgoodtome。Isayoveryourwords，\"ContentmentwithRenunciation，\"andbelievethatatthislasthourIhavegainedsomethinglikewhatyouwouldwishmetofeel。
ForIdonotthinkthatIdesireitotherwisenow。Mylifewouldneverhavebeenofservice，Iamafraid。Youamthelastpersoninthisworldwhohasspokenseriouswordstome，andIwantyoutoknowthatnowatlengthIvaluethepeaceofSantaYsabelasIcouldneverhavedonebutforseeingyourwisdomandgoodness。Youspokeofaneworganforyourchurch。Takethegold—dustthatwillreachyouwiththis，anddowhatyouwillwithit。Letmeatleastindyinghavehelpedsomeone。Andsincethemisnoaristocracyinsouls——yousaidthattome；doyouremember？——
perhapsyouwillsayamassforthisdepartingsoulofmine。Ionlywish，mustmybodymustgoundergroundinastrangecountry，thatitmighthavebeenatSantaYsabeldidMar，whereyourfeetwouldoftenpass。
\"’AtSantaYsabeldelMar，whereyourfeetwouldoftenpass。’\"Thepriestrepeatedthisfinalsentencealoud，withoutbeingawareofit。
\"Thosearethelastwordsheeverspoke，\"saidthestranger，\"exceptbiddingmegood—by。\"
\"Youknewhimwell，then？\"
\"No；notuntilafterhewashurt。I’mthemanhequarreledwith。\"
Thepriestlookedattheshipthatwouldsailonwardthisafternoon。
Thenasmileofgreatbeautypassedoverhisface，andheaddressedthestrange。\"Ithankyou。Youwillneverknowwhatyouhavedoneforme。\"
\"Itisnothing，\"answeredthestranger，awkwardly。\"Hetoldmeyousetgreatstoreonaneworgan。\"
PadreIgnacioturnedawayfromtheshipandrodebackthroughthegorge。
WhenhehadreachedtheshadyplacewhereoncehehadsatwithGastonVillere，hedismountedandagainsatthere，alonebythestream，formanyhours。Longridesandoutingshadbeenlatelysomuchhiscustomthatnoonethoughttwiceofhisabsence；andwhenheresumedtothemissionintheafternoon，theIndiantookhismule，andhewenttohisseatinthegarden。Butitwaswithanotherlookthathewatchedthesea；andpresentlythesailmovedacrossthebluetriangle，andsoonithadroundedtheheadland。
WithitdepartedTemptationforever。
Gaston’sfirstcomingwasinthePadre’smind；and，asthevespersbellbegantoringinthecloisteredsilence，afragmentofAuber’splaintivetunepassedlikeasighacrosshismemory。
[Musicalscoreappearshere]
ForthereposeofGaston’syoung，world—lovingspirit，theysangallthathehadtaughtthemofIlTrovatore。
Afterthisday，FelipeandallthosewhoknewandlovedthePadrebest，sawserenityhadreturnedtohisfeatures；butforsomereasontheybegantowatchthosefeatureswithmorecare。
\"Still，\"theysaid，\"heisnotold。\"Andasthemonthswentbytheywouldrepeat:\"Weshallhavehimyetformanyyears。\"
Thustheseasonrolledround，bringingthetimefortheexpectedmessagesfromtheworld。PadreIgnaciowaswonttositinhisgarden，waitingfortheship，asofold。
\"Asofold，\"theysaid，cheerfully，whosawhim。ButRenunciationwithContentmenttheycouldnotsee；itwasdeepdowninhissilentandthankedheart。
OnedayFelipewenttocallhimfromhisgardenseat，wonderingwhytheringingofthebellhadnotbroughthimtovespers。Breviaryinlap，andhandsfoldeduponit，thePadresatamonghisflowers，lookingatthesea。Outthereamidthesapphire—blue，tranquilandwhite，gleamedthesailsofthebarkentine。Ithadbroughthimanewmessage，notfromthisworld；andPadreIgnaciowasslowlyborneinfromthegarden，whilethemission—belltolledforthepassingofahumansoul。
