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Then the hermit mused; and after a little space he answered,

“It was then also that I saw him. I remember now. Nevertheless, let us plant the root, and abide what GOD shall send.”

And thus they did.

And as the Autumn and Winter went by, the hermit became very feeble, but the boy constantly cheered him, saying, “Patience, my Father. Thou shalt see yet!”

But the hermit replied, “My son, I repent me that I have not been patient under affliction. Moreover, I have set thee an ill example, in that I have murmured at that which GOD–Who knowest best–ordained for me.”

And when the boy ofttimes repeated, “Thou shalt yet see,” the hermit answered, “If GOD will. When GOD will. As GOD will.”

And when he said the prayers for the Hours, he no longer added what he had added beforetime, but evermore repeated, “If THOU wilt. When THOU wilt. As THOU wilt.”

And so the Winter passed; and when the snow lay on the ground the boy and the hermit talked of the garden; and the boy no longer contradicted the old man, though he spoke continually of the hearts-ease, and the everlasting flowers, and the palm. For he said, “When Spring comes I may be able to get these plants, and fit the garden to his vision.”

And at length the Spring came. And with it rose the Trinity Flower. And when the leaves unfolded, they were three, as the hermit had said. Then the boy was wild with joy and with impatience. And when the sun shone for two days together, he would kneel by the flower, and say, “I pray thee, Lord, send showers, that it may wax apace.” And when it rained he said, “I pray Thee, send sunshine, that it may blossom speedily.” For he knew not what to ask. And he danced about the hermit, and cried, “Soon shalt thou see.”

But the hermit trembled, and said, “Not as I will, but as THOU wilt!”

And so the bud formed. And at length one evening, before he went down to the hamlet, the boy came to the hermit and said, “The bud is almost breaking, my Father. To-morrow thou shalt see.”

Then the hermit moved his hands till he laid them on the boy’s head, and he said,

“The Lord repay thee sevenfold for all thou hast done for me, dear child. And now I pray thee, my Son, give me thy pardon for all in which I have sinned against thee by word or deed, for indeed my thoughts of thee have ever been tender.” And when the boy wept, the hermit still pressed him, till he said that he forgave him. And as they unwillingly parted, the hermit said, “I pray thee, dear Son, to remember that, though late, I conformed myself to the will of GOD.”

Saying which, the hermit went into his cell, and the boy returned to the village.

But so great was his anxiety, that he could not rest; and he returned to the garden ere it was light, and sat by the flower till the dawn.

And with the first dim light he saw that the Trinity Flower was in bloom. And as the hermit had said, it was white, and stained with crimson as with blood.

Then the boy shed tears of joy, and he plucked the flower and ran into the hermit’s cell, where the hermit lay very still upon his couch. And the boy said, “I will not disturb him. When he wakes he will find the flower.” And he went out and sat down outside the cell and waited. And being weary as he waited, he fell asleep.

Now before sunrise, whilst it was yet early, he was awakened by the voice of the hermit crying, “My Son, my dear Son!” and he jumped up, saying, “My Father!”

But as he spoke the hermit passed him. And as he passed he turned, and the boy saw that his eyes were open. And the hermit fixed them long and tenderly on him.

Then the boy cried, “Ah, tell me, my Father, dost thou see?”

And he answered, “I see now!” and so passed on down the walk.

And as he went through the garden, in the still dawn, the boy trembled, for the hermit’s footsteps gave no sound. And he passed beyond the rosemary bush, and came not again.

And when the day wore on, and the hermit did not return, the boy went into his cell.

Without, the sunshine dried the dew from paths on which the hermit’s feet had left no prints, and cherished the spring flowers bursting into bloom. But within, the hermit’s dead body lay stretched upon his pallet, and the Trinity Flower was in his hand.