It does not need a very vivid imagination to voice the sentiments of
Aston and his _fiancée_ on the subject of Bernard's extraordinary
conduct--as it would appear to them.

"I was always afraid," the successful suitor would doubtless exclaim,
"that Murray would be the fortunate chap; he was so jolly clever--and
good looking, too!"

"Of course," we may imagine the lady responding, "he was all right in
that way--handsome, and well-bred, and all that sort of thing. But
surely affection is the only thing one really values, dear, and you
were always so faithful," etc., etc., etc.

Meanwhile, in the great Trappist monastery beyond the Irish Sea a
Brother Patrick labored and prayed--if so be he might make some
reparation, at least for past unfaithfulness to so bountiful a Lord.

* * * * * *

"You must have been working hard at your prayers, Ted," was Val's
morning salutation to me when I went in to breakfast one day.

"What, am I late?" I asked, glancing at my watch.

"Oh, that's nothing unusual," was the unkind response, "But I was not
thinking of this morning in particular. Don't you remember what I
asked you to pray for?"

"To be sure I do. For a particularly good mistress for the school."
(For we had just had the misfortune to lose one who was next door to