And the result of
all this was, that he was uneasy at seeing her depart on the errand
on which he suspected that she had gone.
After awhile he arose from his knees, and, returning to the great
open door of the church, stood awhile irresolutely gazing out
towards the forest to the southward. He could not see the farmhouse,
which has been so frequently mentioned, from where he stood, because
it is to the eastward of the church. After awhile he strolled out
and along the road, till he came in sight of the house on the border
of the forest. But there was no human being to be seen. Then,
apparently having taken a resolution, he went into the dilapidated
remains of the old convent, and ascended a stair to the room where
his sole companion, the lay brother, was ill in bed. He gave the
sick man a potion, placed a cup with drink by his side, smoothed his
pillow, and replaced a crucifix at the bed-foot before the patient's
eyes; and then, with a word of consolation, descended again to the
road, and after a long look towards the forest, slowly moved off the
nearest border of it.
It was between eight and nine when Father Fabiano, moving slowly and
irresolutely, thus sauntered off in the direction of the forest; but
it was nearly time for him to sound the "Angelus" at midday before
he returned.
Perhaps it was the fear that he might be late for this duty,--a task
which devolved on him, the lay brother being ill,--that made his
steps, as he returned, very different from those with which he had
set forth.
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