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"As you approach," he said in a low tone, "you will enuflexions--one at the door, another midway across the floor, the

third at the Holy Father's feet You feel well?"

"Yes," she faltered

The door was opened, the Monsignor stepped one pace into the room, and

then knelt and said-"Donna Roma Volonna, your Holiness"

Roma was on her knees at the threshold; a soft, full, kindly voice,

which she could have believed she had heard before, called on her to

approach; she rose and stepped forward, the Monsignor stepped back, and

the door behind her was closed

She was in the Presence

III The Pope, dressed wholly in white, was seated in a simple chair by a

little table in a homely room, surrounded by bookcases and some busts of

former pontiffs There were little domesticities of intimate life about

him, an empty soup-dish, a cruet-stand, a plate and a spoon He had a

face of great sweetness and spirituality, and as Roma approached he bent