Aloysius. We will not stay behind, we will go with you.
Bartley. We cannot live without hearing you!
Paul Ruttledge. I am led by hands that are colder than ice and harder than diamonds. They will lead me where there will be hard thoughts of me in the hearts of all that love me, and there will be a fire in my heart that will make it as bare as the wilderness.
Aloysius. We will go with you. We too will take those hands that are colder than ice and harder than diamonds.
Several Monks. We too! we too!
Patrick. Bring us to the hands that are colder than ice and harder than diamonds.
Other Monks. Pull them away! pull them away from him!
[They are about to seize the Monks who are with Paul Ruttledge.
Superior. [Going between them.] Back! back! I will have no scuffling here. Let the devil take his children if he has a mind to. God will call His own.
[The Monks fall back. Superior goes up to altar, takes the cross from it and turns, standing on the steps.