As you see, there is time for meditation and work in the intervals between the canonical hours and meals." "And the oblates ?" "What oblates?
I saw none at Solesmes." "Indeed--then if there are any, do they lead the same life as the Fathers ?" "Evidently; excepting, perhaps, some dispensations depending on the Abbot's favour.

I can tell you this much: that in some other Benedictine Houses that I have visited the general system is that the oblate shall follow as much of the rule as he is able for." "Still, he is, I suppose, free to come and go--his actions are free ?" "When once he has taken the oath of obedience to his Superior, and, after his term of probation, has adopted the monastic habit, he is as much a monk as the rest, and consequently can do nothing without the Father Superior's leave." "The deuce!" muttered Durtal.

"Of course, if the ridiculous metaphor so familiar to the world were accurate, if the cloister were rightly compared to a tomb, the condition of the oblate would also be tomb-like, only its walls would be less air-tight, and the stone, a little tilted, would admit a ray of daylight." "If you like!" said the Abbe, laughing.
As they walked, they had reached the Bishop's palace.
They went into the forecourt, and saw the Abbe Gevresin making his way to the gardens; they joined him, and the old priest asked them to go with him to the kitchen garden, where, to oblige his housekeeper, he was to inspect the seeds she had sown.
"Aye, and I too promised long ago to look at the vegetables," exclaimed Durtal.
They went down the ancient paths and reached the orchard on the slope; and as soon as Madame Bavoil caught sight of them she grounded arms, so to speak, setting her foot in gardener fashion on the spade she had stuck into the soil.
She proudly pointed to her rows of cabbages and carrots, onions and peas, announced that she intended to make an attempt on the gourd tribe, expatiated on cucumbers and pumpkins, and to conclude, declared that at the bottom of the kitchen garden she meant to have a flower-bed.
Then they sat down on a mound that formed a sort of seat.
The Abbe Plomb, in a mood for teasing, gave his spectacles a push, settling the arch above his nose, and rubbing his hands, remarked, very seriously,-- "Madame Bavoil, flowers and vegetables are but of trivial importance from the decorative and culinary point of view; the only rule that should guide you in your selection is the symbolical meaning, the virtues and vices ascribed to plants.

Now, I am sorry to observe that your favourites are for the most part of evil augury." "I do not understand you, Monsieur l'Abbe." "Why, you have only to consider that these vegetables which you take such care of mean many evil things.

Lentils, for instance--you grow lentils ?" "Yes." "Well, the seeds of the lentils are very cunning and mysterious.
Artemidorus, in his 'Interpretation of Dreams,' tells us that if we dream of them it is a sign of mourning; it is the same with lettuce and onion: they forecast misfortune.