human
You are early, Signora, he said.
gpt
I suppose you are the person for whom yonder scaffold has been prepared.
human
Yes, father, I am the artist for whom leave has been obtained to copy some of your mosaics.
gpt
You will find it cold work, daughter. The church is damp somewhat. You would do better, methinks, not to begin your day's work till the sun has had time to warm the air a little.
human
I had no thought, father, of beginning to-day. I have brought nothing with me. I only thought that I would walk out and have a look at the job before me. It is not so far from the city as I thought.
gpt
It is far enough to be as lonely and as deserted as if it were a thousand miles from a human habitation,
human
Yet you live here, from year's end to year's end all alone, Padre mio,
gpt
Not quite so, daughter, replied he.
human
Brother Barnaba, a lay brother of our order, is my companion. But he is ill with a touch of ague at present.
gpt
And how early would it be not inconvenient to you, Padre mio, to open the church for me?
human
I spoke not of your being early on my account, daughter. If you come here at sunrise, you will find the gate open, and me where you found me this morning; and if you come at midnight you will find the same.
gpt
At midnight, father!
human
Last October I was down with the fever, returned the monk;
gpt
What was the reward of St. Romauld, father?
human
His midnight prayers were rewarded by the vision of St. Apollinare in glory, who spoke to him, and gave him the counsel he sought. Night after night, and hour after hour, have I knelt and prayed. And I have heard the moaning of the wind from the Adriatic among the pines of the forest yonder, and I have seen the great crucifix above the high altar sway and move in the moonlight when it comes streaming through the southern windows; and sometimes I have hoped--and prayed--and hoped--but no vision came!