Page:Blackwood's Magazine volume 146.djvu/386

as he passes. "Benedicamus Domino!" to which each and all, hurriedly dressing, washing, or shaving, reply from behind the curtains, "Deo Gratias!" Haste must be made, for all these operations, besides that of carrying dirty water to the sink, must be performed in twenty-five minutes, in order to leave five minutes free for a visit in the private chapel to the "Master of the house."

Here they come,—and first of all the most fervent and saintly amongst them, Brother Seraphicus, as the novices playfully call him. It is 4.15: so he will pay a visit of a quarter of an hour. Alas! Seraphic Brother, I am afraid a shorter visit would have been preferable; you have neglected more than one duty to get these extra ten minutes. One shoe is badly laced; your tooth-brush is dry; and even your hands might be whiter. Mon Frère, with all your fervour, you will never be a son of Ignatius: that old Saint has a military liking for tidiness and order. In two years you will leave the Novitiate, to become a good pious priest, but never a Jesuit. Now go in and sigh, and lean your head on one side, languishing with burning love for "Jésus Hostie!" All that is very well in its way, but—discipline must be maintained.

Second on the list comes another young Brother, half French and half Irish, of quite another type, rather dry in his orisons, and not at all given to soaring in mystic contemplation. He cannot even fancy St Peter during the Meditation, without thinking of an old tar, with a "south-wester" on his head, and a short black pipe in the corner of his mouth. But he is irreproachably neat in all his belongings; and in fact, I think, prides himself on the rapidity with which he does all things so well. 8till, pride is a sin,—and, to say the truth, his demeanour is far from novice-like. He holds his head erect not with a gentle curve forwards, as most of his companions do; his eyes, though not wandering, are yet far from downcast. Can he remain in the Society, when Brother Seraphicus is not good enough? Yes, and do good solid work in the colleges, too.

Here comes at last the rest of the Community, all stepping lightly on tiptoe, as the "Master of the novices" has ordered. Were they fifty together, they must all walk along in this fashion,—which looks rather ridiculous, but is meant to inculcate respect for silence. All hurry towards the sink, carrying each in his hand the requisite vessel. Rectors, Provincials, nay, even Generals, are also bound to this rule of "self-help," and not novices only; unless, indeed, they are too much engaged, and then a lay-brother does the work.

Five-and-twenty minutes have elapsed; all novices coming henceforward to the chapel must kneel down outside the door, not to disturb the others,—and there is often a whole string of them outside, when a long walk on the previous day has made them so sleepy that they are not able to do everything both speedily and well. For besides their outward occupations, their mind has all the time to be busily at work. They must take their morning resolution for the day—what evil specially to avoid, and what virtue to cultivate: and then there is the Meditation to be thought about; and they must offer the coming day to God.