Did not your good father pass away whilst at Constantinople ?' Thus, with perfect simplicity, with kindliest interest in things human, did Benedict draw the young man into converse.

He put no question that touched on the inner life, and Basil uttered not a word concerning his late distress, but they touched for a moment upon public affairs, and Basil learnt, without show of special interest, that Totila still lingered in Campania.
'Your follower, Deodatus,' said the abbot presently, 'begs each day for permission to see you.

The good fellow has not lived in idleness; he is a brave worker in wood, and by chance we much needed one of his craft.
Not many things of this world give me more pleasure than to watch a cunning craftsman as he smooths timber, and fits the pieces together, and makes of them something that shall serve the needs of men.

Is it not, in some sort, to imitate the great Artificer?
Would, O Basil, that our country had more makers and fewer who live but to destroy.' 'Would it were so, indeed!' sighed Basil, in a low, fervent voice.
'But the end is not yet,' pursued Benedict, his eyes gazing straight before him, as if they beheld the future.

'Men shall pray for peace, but it will not be granted them, so great are the iniquities of the world which utters the name of Christ, yet knows Him not.' He paused with troubled brow.