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"And why did they send away one who did so much good here? Oh!

unhappy me!"

"If our superiors were obliged to give reasons for what they do,

where would be our obedience, my good woman?"

"But this is such a loss!"

"Shall I tell you how it has happened? they have probably wanted

a good preacher at Rimini; (we have them in every place to be

sure, but sometimes a particular man is needed;) the father

provincial of that place has written to the father provincial of

this, to know if there were such a person in this convent; the

father provincial returned for answer, that there was none but

Father Christopher who corresponded to the description."

"Oh! unfortunate! When did he go?"

"The day before yesterday."

"Oh! if I had only come a few days sooner, as I wished to do! And

do they not know when he will return?"