righteous man who obtained celestial glory by following the law of
nature. And yet he was but half human.

"I think I have proved by this example that, to reach eternal
blessedness, it is enough to possess some parts of humanity, always on
the condition that they are noble. And what Chiron, the Centaur,
could obtain without having been regenerated by baptism, would not the
penguins deserve too, if they became half penguins and half men? That
is why, Lord, I entreat you to give old Mael's penguins a human head
and breast so that they can praise you worthily. And grant them also an
immortal soul--but one of small size."

Thus Catherine spoke, and the fathers, doctors, confessors, and pontiffs
heard her with a murmur of approbation.

But St. Anthony, the Hermit, arose and stretching two red and knotty
arms towards the Most High:

"Do not so, O Lord God," he cried, "in the name of your holy Paraclete,
do not so!"

He spoke with such vehemence that his long white beard shook on his chin
like the empty nose-bag of a hungry horse.

"Lord, do not so. Birds with human heads exist already. St. Catherine
has told us nothing new."

"The imagination groups and compares; it never creates," replied St.
Catherine drily.