“‘But, monseigneur, there is a band of them! A flock of wolves!’
“‘It may be that it is of this very flock of wolves that Jesus has constituted me the shepherd. Who knows the ways of Providence?’
“‘They will rob you!’
“‘I have nothing.’
“‘Do not go, monseigneur. In the name of Heaven! you are risking your life!’
“‘Is that all?’ asked the bishop. ’Well, I am not in the world to guard my life, but to guard souls.’”
So he went, and the brigands did not harm him. He reached the little village, and wished to celebrate a mass, but there were no vestments. Nevertheless, the mass was announced, and then one night there was left at the house where the bishop was staying a great chest, and when it was opened all the vestments which had been stolen from the cathedral were found there, together with a paper reading, “From Cravatte to Bishop Welcome.”
“Wouldn’t you like to do a thing like that?” asked Allan, with sparkling eyes, when the chapter was finished.
And Bess Heywood nodded, not trusting herself to speak.