Aloysius. He is too far above them; they have not education to understand him.
Colman. They understand me well enough when I give my mind to it. But it is harder to preach now than it was in the monastery. We had something to offer then; absolution here, and heaven after.
Aloysius. Isn't it enough for them to hear that the kingdom of heaven is within them, and that if they do the right meditations——
Colman. What can poor people that have their own troubles on them get from a few words like that they hear at a cross road or a market, and the wind maybe blowing them away? If we could gather them together now.... Look, Aloysius, at these sally rods; I have a plan in my mind about them.
[He has stuck some of the rods in the ground, and begins weaving others through them.
Aloysius. Are you going to make baskets like you did in the monastery schools?
Colman. We must make something if we are to live. But it is more than that I was thinking of; we might coax some of the youngsters to come and learn the basket making; it would make them take to us better if we could put them in the way of earning a few pence.
Aloysius. [Taking up some of the osiers and beginning to twist them.] That might be a good way to come at them; they could work through the day, and at evening we could tell them how to repeat the words till the light comes inside their heads. But would Paul think well of it? He is more for pulling down than building up.
Colman. When I explain it to him I am sure he will think well of it; he can't go on for ever without anyone to listen to him.
Aloysius. I suppose not, and with no way of living. But I don't know, I'm afraid he won't like it.