In short, His will be done!--And you, our friend, do you still think of taking shelter in a cloister ?" "I--my spirit still craves a truce; my soul is but shifting ballast." "Because, no doubt, you are not honest in your dealings.

You behave as if you meant to strike a bargain with Him; that is not the way to set to work." "What would you do in my place ?" "I should be generous; I should say to Him, 'Here I am, do with me as Thou wilt.

I give myself unconditionally to Thee.

I ask but one thing: Help me to love Thee.'" "And do you suppose that I have not blamed myself for my cowardice of heart ?" They walked on in silence.

When they reached the cathedral, Madame Bavoil proposed that they should pay a visit to Notre Dame du Pilier.
They seated themselves in the gloom of the side aisle of the choir, where the dark-toned windows were still further obscured by a poorly executed wooden niche, in which the Virgin, as dark as her namesake in the crypt, Notre Dame de Sous-Terre, stood on a pillar, hung round with bunches of metal hearts and little lamps on coronas, from the roof.
Frames of tapers on each side shot up little tongues of flame, and prostrate women were praying, their faces hidden in their hands or upturned to the dark countenance, on which the light did not fall.
It struck Durtal that the woes repressed in the morning hours were poured out in the twilight; the faithful did not now come for Her alone, but for themselves; each one brought a load of sorrows and opened it before Her.