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the Society shortly before； though in another place； because of some
novices admitted without their parents' consent。 The Provincial did not
wish to risk having a like disturbance brought about his own ears。
〃But the Blessed Virgin will take care of the whole business； Father；〃
said Stanislaus。 〃She will quiet any opposition my father may make。〃
Well； the Provincial was willing to believe that too。 But he knew that
God wants us to use our own common sense and not to act rashly and then
rely upon Him； or upon our Lady's intercession with Him； to get us out of
scrapes。 So he had to give the only answer which prudence could give； to
all Stanislaus' petitions。
〃You must either get your father's permission； or you must wait until
you are of age and your own master。〃
Now； Stanislaus was quite certain his father would not hear for a
moment of his becoming a Jesuit。 On the other hand； he did not want to
wait four or five years until he should come of age。 He had that peculiar
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courage； which many people cannot understand at all； the courage to be
afraid。 He was very much afraid； afraid to trifle with God's grace； afraid
lest if he did not take the favor now when it was offered him； it might not
be offered another time。
He thought of another means of persuading the Provincial。 The
Apostolic Legate of Pope Saint Pius V to the court of the Emperor at
Vienna was Cardinal Commendoni。 This Cardinal had been Nuncio； and
afterwards Legate； to Poland； and had come from Poland only a year or so
before。 He was well acquainted with the Lord John Kostka and with
Stanislaus。 When he came to Vienna； Paul and Stanislaus had visited him；
and Stanislaus had made the Cardinal； as he did most people； his friend。
So he went to Cardinal Commendoni。 He figured hopefully that； as the
Cardinal was the Pope's representative； he could easily impose his will on
the Jesuit Provincial； and of course he would do so as his friend。
Commendoni welcomed the boy； listened to him attentively； marvelled
at his unaffected goodness and at the heavenly favors shown him。
Stanislaus told him of the distressing obstinacy of the Provincial。
〃But how about your father？〃 the Cardinal asked。
〃Oh； my father is more hopeless than the Provincial；〃 Stanislaus
answered。 〃If I so much as mentioned the matter to him； he would bring
me back to Poland； and I should have no chance at all。〃
As Commendoni knew the Lord John pretty well； he said nothing to
that。 But he thought to himself that Stanislaus was fairly accurate in his
forecast。
After a moment's thought； he said：
〃You certainly have a right to follow your vocation。 God's will comes
before even your father's。 But it is not going to be easy。 However； I shall
speak to the Father Provincial； and do what I can。〃
Stanislaus went away with good hopes。 He was to return in a few days
to hear the result of Commendoni's plea。 But when he came back to the
Cardinal； he found only another disappointment。 The Provincial not
merely was as stubborn as ever； he had even won the Cardinal to his way
of thinking。 It was too risky to admit him； it was altogether unwise。
Most boys might have given up after that。 Stanislaus did not give up。
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He was quite sure of what God wanted； and difficulties simply did not
count。 lie was called to be a Jesuit； and a Jesuit he would be。 If he could
not gain admission into the Society in Vienna； well； he would try
elsewhere。
But even with his mind fairly made up； he sought more guidance。 A
young Portuguese Jesuit； Father Antoni； had lately come to Vienna as
preacher to the Empress Maria。 Every one was talking about his ability； his
prudence； his zeal。 Stanislaus went to him； and laid his troubles before
him。
Father Antoni took some little time to think it all over； then decided
very definitely。 He called Stanislaus to him。
〃Do you understand；〃 he asked； 〃what it will mean to go away； to
leave your people； to live in a strange country？〃
Stanislaus said； yes； he understood perfectly。
〃And that you are closing the door on your return； that in no case will
you ever be received again at Kostkov？〃
Yes； Stanislaus knew that too。
〃And that you will have to go an immense journey on foot； with plenty
of hardships； to find at the end of it a life that is not easy； to live at the
beck and call of another； to do menial work； to endure humiliations； to
sacrifice everything that the world holds。 dear？〃
Stanislaus smiled at him。 He had reckoned it all out； he had 〃counted
the cost〃 long before； he was ready。
Then； in God's name； go！ 〃 said Father Antonie 〃And may God be with
you in all。 I'll give you letters to Father Canisius； the Provincial in
Augsburg； and to Father Francis Borgia； the General； who is in Rome。〃
Then Stanislaus was happy。 At last he was in a fair way to obey the
command of God； which our Lady herself had brought him。 Father Antoni
spoke with him longer； pointed out in detail many of the difficulties that
awaited him； gave him counsel for the road。 Then he went to write the
letters of introduction； and Stanislaus went back to Paul and Bilinski and
their blows and sneers； to get ready for his tramp。
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CHAPTER X
THE RUNAWAY
He was going to run away。 But he was not going to sneak away。 He
was just as kind and forgiving to Paul as he had always been。 He bore him
no ill…will for his three years of abuse； now that he had determined upon a
course of action； which would free him from a continuance of it。 He had
often felt angry over Paul's treatment of him； but he had kept down his
anger under his vigorous will。
But now he made up his mind that Paul would receive something of a
shock the next time he had resort to his now almost habitual amusement of
beating his younger brother。 Meantime； he bought a peasant's tunic and a
pair of rough shoes that would be serviceable for his long march。
It was not long before something or other Stanislaus did or said woke
Paul's easily aroused rage。 He began with oaths； of which he seemed to
possess a pretty stock。 He worked himself up into greater and greater heat
of temper … a substitute for courage with many people。 Finally he sprang at
Stanislaus。 Formerly； on such occasions Stanislaus was so busy holding
his own temper in check that he could do little else； he stood almost like a
statue。 But this time Paul felt there was something wrong。 Stanislaus was
looking straight at him。 When he leaped to strike him； Stanislaus quietly
and skillfully thrust him aside。 Paul stumbled； staggered； recovered
himself。 But when he looked again； fear took hold of him。 He was afraid
of what he saw in Stanislaus' eyes。 The younger boy spoke quietly； coolly。
〃That will be about enough；〃 he said； 〃I've put up with your cowardice
and brutality for three years。 I'll stand it no longer。 Since I cannot have
peace here； well；。 I'll look for it somewhere else。 You can answer to our
father； and tell him how it happened。〃
Paul was still frightened。 The situation was extremely novel to him。
The turning of the worm！ What would happen next！ He was afraid at first
that Stanislaus was going to give him his long…due payment； and he had no
stomach to face the reckoning。 He had not noticed before how wiry and
strong Stanislaus looked。 But when he saw that the boy made no
movement； only spoke in that quiet voice； he plucked up a little courage。
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He began to bluster and swear。
〃You'll go away； will you？〃 he cried。 〃What the devil do I care？ Go；
and be hanged to you！〃 … that was the gist of it； onl