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"Ah! yes, my son, yes!" cried Frederick with affectionate

dignity; "Heaven knows that I would have desired to hold other

converse with you. We have both had a long pilgrimage through

life. Heaven knows how painful it has been to me, to grieve your

old age by reproaches; how much more I should have loved to

occupy the time of this interview in mutual consolation, and

mutual anticipation of the heavenly hope which is so near our

grasp! God grant that the language I have been obliged to hold

may be useful to both of us! Act in such a manner, that He will

not call me to account on the great and terrible day, for having

retained you in a ministry of which you were unworthy. Let us

redeem the time; the night is far spent; the spouse will not

linger; let us keep our lamps trimmed and burning. Let us offer

to God our poor and miserable hearts, that he may fill them with

his love!" So saying he arose to depart; Don Abbondio followed

him.