As he heard it now, here amid the solitude of the hills, it brought him help such as he needed.
'Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere, Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus.' When at the end he rose, these words were still resonant within him.

He turned to go forth, and there behind, also just risen from her knees, stood a veiled woman, at the sight of whom he thrilled with astonishment.

No peasant she; for her attire, though but little adorned, told of refinement, and the grace of her figure, the simple dignity of her attitude, would alone have marked her out among the girls and women who were leaving the church, their eyes all turned upon her and on the female attendant standing respectfully near.

Through the veil which covered her face and hung about her shoulders, Marcian could dimly discern lips and eyebrows.
'Lord Marcian, may I speak with you ?' It was the voice of last night, and again it shook him with an ecstasy which had more of dread than of joy.
'You here ?' he replied, speaking very low.

'You have heard the mass ?' 'I am a Catholic.