Shall I wish it for you, my son?
Shall I give it to you for my blessing?
May great tribulation come upon you in your life! _Great tribulation!_ See how weak my faith is even now at the very end.

I cannot give you this blessing, although I know very well that it is the only way.

I know this, because I have been along this way myself, and it has led me to Him.' Again he paused.

It did not seem to Hyacinth to be possible to say anything.

He was not sure in his heart that the friendship of the Man of Sorrows was so well worth having that he would be content to pay for it by accepting such a benediction from his father.
'I shall do this for you, Hyacinth: I shall pray that when the choice is given you, the great choice between what is easy and what is hard, the right decision may be made for you.