"Dear friend, you are weary and troubled in spirit," he said
tenderly then, "And my words seem to you only terrible because they
are true! If they grieve you, it is because the grief in your heart
echoes mine! And if I do think and speak more seriously than I
should, it is for the reason that I have been so much alone in the
world,--left to myself, with my own thoughts of God, which are not
thoughts such as many care for. I would not add to your sorrows,--I
would rather lighten them if I could--but I feel and fear that I
shall be a burden upon you before long!"
"Never!" exclaimed Bonpre fervently, "Never a burden on me, child!
Surely while I live you will not leave me?"
Manuel was silent for a little space. His eyes wandered from the
Cardinal's venerable worn features to the upstanding silver crucifix
that gleamed dully in the glow of the wood-embers.
"I will not leave you unless it is well for you that I should go,"
he answered at last, "And even then, you will always know where to
find me."
The Cardinal looked at him earnestly, and with a searching
interrogation,--but the boy's face though sweetly composed, had a
certain gravity of expression which seemed to forbid further
questioning.
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