prayed for her father, not only for his health but also for his happiness.
Then without even thinking of what she was doing she found herself praying that he would be saved from her stepmother and that she would not be able to harm him or make him unhappy.
She could not quite understand why these thoughts were so prevalent at this moment and yet she was sure they were a vital part of her prayers.
She could not ignore them and it was almost, she thought, as if someone was telling her that her father was in danger.
Not just from his health but from his wife.
Attila must have prayed for quite a long time.
Then, as she thought she would rise, she turned first to look at Father Jozsef.
He was beside her and she wondered if his prayers too were finished and he was ready to leave.
He was kneeling with his back very straight and his head high.
At first glance she could see that his eyes were not closed.
He was looking at the Shrine and the Cross which stood on top of it.
She bent towards him to ask in a whisper if he was ready to rise.
Suddenly he threw out his arms and in a voice that vibrated with a wild excitement, he exclaimed,
âMarie! Marie! Marie!â
He called out her name three times.
Then he fell forward.
As he did so and just before he touched the ground, Attila knew that he had joined Marie who he had loved all through the years.
As three guards hurried forward, she knew in her heart that he was dead.
CHAPTER FOUR
The guards carried Father Jozsefâs body out of the Shrine and down to the Monastery where they lived.
Following them Attila was not surprised that there was a small Chapel attached to the Monastery and Father Jozsef was taken inside and laid in front of the altar.
Then one of the guards asked her who he was.
âHe is Father Jozsef from Valdina.â
The guards looked at her in some surprise and she realised that they had heard of the Father, but they had not expected him to come to the Shrine as a pilgrim.
They took Attila into another room and asked her to wait while they went to fetch the Father Superior.
He was a distinguished looking elderly man and the guards bowed him into the room where Attila was waiting.
âI hear,â he now began, âthat Father Jozsef, whom we have all loved and admired, has passed on to God.â
âI think,â said Attila quietly with tears in her eyes, âit is just what he wanted, because as he died he saw Marie, the woman he always loved.â
âYes, my men told me. I suppose you are with him as a pupil?â
âHe brought me on this pilgrimage,â Attila replied. âI am most concerned about my fatherâs health and I also have a private wish of my own, which Father Jozsef felt St. Janos would answer for me.â
âI am quite sure he was right, my child, but how are you to return to Valdina?â
âThere is no trouble about that, because I came here on horseback and Father Jozsef rode too. His two servants brought his carriage for us to sleep in.â
âThen that does solve one problem,â said the Father Superior with a smile. âOtherwise I would send a guard to accompany you on your return to Valdina.â
âThat is so kind of you, Father, but it will be quite unnecessary. Lamos has been with Father Jozsef for many years and will, I know, look after me as if he was still with us.â
âWhich I am sure he will be.â
The Father Superior asked Attila to wait while they attended to Father Jozsef and then he asked,
âDo you wish to take Father Jozsef back with you to his own country? Or shall we bury him here?â
Attila looked surprised and he explained,
âSeveral people have asked if they could be buried close to the Shrine and others, just like Father Jozsef, have succumbed owing to the long journey.â
Attila thought for a moment.
âI think that as Father Jozsef had such a respect and devotion to the Shrine, he would rather be buried
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