Third Friar. We were all in danger when one so pious was led away. It's five years he has been with us now, and no one ever went so quickly from lay brother to novice, and novice to friar.
First Friar. The way he fasted too! The Superior bade me watch him at meal times for fear he should starve himself.
Third Friar. He thought a great deal of Brother Paul then, but he isn't so well pleased with him now.
Second Friar. What is Father Aloysius doing there? standing so quiet and his eyes shut.
Third Friar. He is meditating. Didn't you hear Brother Paul gives meditations of his own.
First Friar. Colman was telling me about that. He gives them a joyful thought to fix their minds on. They must not let their minds stray to anything else. They must follow that single thought and put everything else behind them.
Third Friar. Colman fainted the other day when he was at his meditation. He says it is a great labour to follow one thought always.
Second Friar. What do they do it for?
First Friar. To escape what they call the wandering of nature. They say it was in the trance Brother Paul got the knowledge of it. He says that if a man can only keep his mind on the one high thought he gets out of time into eternity, and learns the truth for itself.
Third Friar. He calls that getting above law and number, and becoming king and priest in one's own house.