You can never grow them side by side." "That is symbolical of many unfinished cathedrals, where the building is carried across from century to century," said Durtal, snapping his stick.

"But listen, fancy apart, there is something which may be done, and has not been done, for celestial botany and pious posies.
"That is, to make a liturgical garden, a true Benedictine garden, where flowers may be grown in succession for the sake of their relations to the Scriptures and hagiology.

Would it not be delightful to follow out the liturgy of prayer with that of plants, to place them side by side in the sanctuary, to deck the altars with flowers all having their meanings according to the days and festivals; in short, to associate nature in its most exquisite manifestation--that is, its flowers--with the ceremonies of divine worship ?" "Yes, indeed!" exclaimed both the priests with one accord.
"Meanwhile, till these fine things are accomplished, I will be content to dig in my little kitchen garden with an eye to the savoury stews in which you shall share," said Madame Bavoil.

"There I am in my element; I do not lose my footing as I do in your imitation churches." "And I, on my part, will meditate on the symbolism of eatables," said Durtal, taking out his watch.

"It is near breakfast time." As he was going off, the Abbe Plomb called him back and said, laughing,-- "In your future cathedral you have forgotten to reserve a nook for Saint Columba, if, indeed, we can find some ascetic plant native, or at any rate common, to Ireland, the land where this Father was born." "The thistle, figurative of mortification and penance and a memento of asceticism, is conspicuous as the badge of Scotland," replied Durtal.
"But why Saint Columba ?" "Because of all saints he is the most neglected, the least invoked by those of our contemporaries who ought to be most assiduous; since he is regarded in the attributions of special virtues as the patron saint of idiots." "Pooh!" cried the Abbe Gevresin.