Him to look with favor upon their efforts and
to render possible of realization those desires which were uppermost in
their hearts. Marjorie thought that they could not, they must not fail,
they, who were animated by such sincere devotion and by such sentiments
of genuine piety.

"Mr. Franklin isn't here?" she whispered.

"No," he softly answered. "I think he has not returned from France. He
was there, you know, when the Alliance was concluded. Lafayette only
joined Washington last month. Did you know that he brought with him a
commission from the French King to General Washington, appointing him
Lieutenant-General in the French army and Vice-Admiral of its navy?"

"No. I did not hear of it."

"I suppose Franklin is still over there. He would be here, although he
himself is an atheist. He believes in no form of religious worship. I
should not say that he is an atheist for he does believe in One God, but
that is about all."

The murmur about the little church began to die away. Still the surging
at the door continued until it seemed as if the small building would
burst its sides with its great burden.

The tinkle of a little bell sounding from the door leading from the
sanctuary announced that the Mass was about to begin. On the instant the
congregation rose and remained standing until Father Bandol, preceded
by the altar boys, had reached the foot of the altar and made the
genuflection.

II

High up in the gallery the choir broke into the strains of the "Kyrie"
of the Mass, while the priest in a profound bow before the altar made
his confession of sins. Marjorie took out her prayer-book and began to
follow the Mass, meditating upon the mysteries of Our Lord's life as
commemorated in the Holy Sacrifice.

Ascending the altar, the priest passed at once to the right hand side
where lay the Mass-Book, from which he read the Introit. He returned to
the center and chanted in soft clear tones the "Gloria in Excelsis," the
hymn of praise which the angels sang for the first time on Christmas
night when Christ, the Lord, was born. This was taken up immediately by
the choir. Meanwhile the congregation were seated during the singing of
this hymn of praise to the Most High.

The prayers of the Mass, prayers for our rulers, prayers for peace were
sung by the celebrant, the people kneeling in an attitude of prayer
while their priest interceded to God in their behalf. Having finished
the prayers for the people a Lesson fr