On the day she took me to the Quartiere dei Prati* I was quite overcome; it was awful, astonishingly awful!" * The district of the castle meadows--see _ante_ note .-- Trans.
"But I remember that we promised to go to see the poor people," resumed Benedetta, "and we have done wrong in delaying our visit so long.

For your studies, Monsieur l'Abbe Froment, you greatly desired to accompany us and see the poor of Rome--was that not so ?" As she spoke she raised her eyes to Pierre, who for a moment had been silent.

He was much moved by her charitable thought, for he realised, by the faint quiver of her voice, that she desired to appear a docile pupil, progressing in affection for the lowly and the wretched.

Moreover, his passion for his apostolate had at once returned to him.

"Oh!" said he, "I shall not quit Rome without having seen those who suffer, those who lack work and bread.