He felt that the Father was sending him forth upon new paths, but that He would carry him in His mighty hand.

He reverently blessed the creature through which so much light of grace had come to him, the most pure water! Then he bent his steps towards the Ospizio.

Don Clemente, who was waiting for him in the courtyard, started when he caught sight of him, so transfigured did he appear.

Under his thick, damp hair his eyes shone with quiet celestial joy, and the fleshless face, the colour of ivory, wore that expression of occult spirituality which flowed from the brushes of the _Quattrocento_.

How could that face harmonise with peasant's attire?
In his heart Don Clemente congratulated himself upon a thought which he had conceived during the night, and had already communicated to the Abbot, namely, to give Benedetto an old lay-brother's habit.