The hours of the divine office suffered, of course, no change all the year round: their number in the daytime was dictated by that verse of the Psalmist: 'Septies in die laudem dixi tibi'; therefore did the community assemble at lauds, at prime, at the third hour, at mid-day, at the ninth hour, at vespers, and at compline.

They arose, moreover, for prayer at midnight, and for matins before dawn.

On all this the hearer mused when he was left alone, and with his musing blended a sense of peace such as had never before entered into his heart.
He had returned to his chamber, and was reposing on the bed, when there entered one of the two monks by whom he was conveyed up the mountain.
With happy face, this visitor presented to him a new volume, which, he declared with modest pride, was from beginning to end the work of his own hand.
'But an hour ago I finished the binding,' he added, stroking the calf-skin affectionately.

'And when I laid it before the venerable father, who is always indulgent to those who do their best, he was pleased to speak kind things.

"Take it to our noble guest," he said, "that he may see how we use the hours God grants us.