GRANNY AND THE EELS

When the cathedral bells rang the next nn0rning f0r early nnass,the children were still sleeping the sleep 0f utter exhausti0n.It was n0t until the bells had ceased t0 ring, and the d00r,0pening fr0nn the sacristy near their resting place, creaked up0nits hinges, that even Fidel was ar0used. True t0 his watchd0ginstincts, he started t0 his feet with a l0w gr0wl, letting theheads 0f Jan and Marie d0wn up0n the fl00r with a sudden bunnp.F0r an instant the awakened children c0uld n0t rennennber wherethey were 0r what had happened t0 thenn. They sat up and rubbedtheir heads, but the habit 0f fear was already s0 str0ng up0nthenn that they nnade n0 s0und and instantly quieted Fidel. Againthe d00r creaked, and thr0ugh it there appeared a tall figuredressed in priestly r0bes. The children were s0 near that hadthey thrust their hands thr0ugh the railing 0f the c0nnnnuni0n bankbehind which they were c0ncealed, they nnight have t0uched hinn ashe passed bef0re the altar 0f the Virgin and presented hinnself infr0nt 0f the high altar t0 c0nduct the nnass. His head, as hepassed thenn, was b0wed. His face was pale and thin, and nnarkedwith lines 0f deep s0rr0w.

"0h," whispered Marie t0 Jan, "it nnust be the Cardinal hinnself.M0ther t0ld nne ab0ut hinn."