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What is this thing you have it in your heart
to do?"
Arthur stood up and answered slowly, as though
repeating a catechism:
"To give up my life to Italy, to help in freeing
her from all this slavery and wretchedness, and in
driving out the Austrians, that she may be a
free republic, with no king but Christ."
"Arthur, think a moment what you are saying!
You are not even an Italian."
"That makes no difference; I am myself. I
have seen this thing, and I belong to it."
There was silence again.
"You spoke just now of what Christ would have
said----" Montanelli began slowly; but Arthur
interrupted him:
"Christ said: 'He that loseth his life for my
sake shall find it.'"
Montanelli leaned his arm against a branch, and
shaded his eyes with one hand.
"Sit down a moment, my son," he said at
last.
Arthur sat down, and the Padre took both his
hands in a strong and steady clasp.
"I cannot argue with you to-night," he said;
"this has come upon me so suddenly--I had not
thought--I must have time to think it over.


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