At that moment Manuel moved from the place he had kept near the
Cardinal's chair. With a light, eager step forward, he went up to
the little cripple, and putting his arms round him kissed him on the
forehead.

"Good-bye, dear little brother!" he said smiling--"Do not be sad!
Have patience! In all the universe, among all the millions and
millions of worlds, there is never a pure and unselfish prayer that
the great good God does not answer! Be sure of that! Take courage,
dear little brother! You will soon be well!"

Fabien stared, half amazed, at the gentle young face that shone upon
him with such an expression of hope and tenderness.

"You are very kind," he said--"And you are just a boy yourself,--so
you can perhaps guess how it must feel not to be like other boys who
can run and leap and walk for miles and miles through the fields and
the green shady forests where the birds sing,--and where there is so
much to see and think about,--when one is lame one cannot go far you
know--and then there is my mother--she is very sad about me,--and it
will be hard for her if I live to be a man and still can do nothing
to help her . . ."

His weak voice broke, and two large tears filled his eyes and
brimmed over, trickling slowly down his pale cheeks. Manuel took his
hand and pressed it encouragingly.

"Do not cry!" he said gently--"Believe in what I say--that you will
soon be quite well. The Cardinal has prayed for you as only good men
CAN pray,--without one selfish thought, in faith and deep humility,-