The Woman and the Priest

t she was expecting him. Perhaps he intended making a few remarks on the subject of usury, and certain other trades which she practised; or because she was in the habit of lending out—for purely me

went to the door and stood there with her hands in her pockets, heavy with

down to fasten the bolt. She was active in her movements, although tall and stout; but, contrary to the other women o

ooked straight into his with an ardent, languorous gaze. Then she invited him to take a seat in the room behind t

rn, whilst Antiochus, resigned to the inevitable, stood beside him, casting anxious glances round, however, to

green liqueurs, the light falling crudely on the small black casks ranged along the opposite side of the shop. There was no other furniture except the long table at which sat the priest, and anot

ould have liked her to be more humble, more docile in the presence of the priest; but instead of that she had taken her seat again behind the bar, and sat there as composedly as a queen on her throne. She did not even appear to

r, Paul opened

ng his elbows on the table and placing his finger-tips together, "

erely nodde

f you like," broke in Antiochus, with an eagerness

t you are going to do with him. He is growing big now and you must either teach him a trade or, if you

to speak he listened to her silently, though with

sound the praises of her husband, also to excuse hers

lage has got through the idleness of its inhabitants! I say, then, that if Antiochus wants to choose a trade, he has only to follow his father's; that is the best trade for him. The boy is free to do as he likes, and even if he wants to do nothing (I don't say it for vanity), he will be able to li

said the boy with quive

be a priest," r

is fate wa

future for Antiochus when he could not succeed in solving it for himself? The boy stood before him in ardent expectation, like a piece of red-hot iron awaiting the stroke of the hammer to mould it into shape, and every w

eing a priest is not a trade, you know; it is not like being a charcoal-burner or a carpenter. You think now that it is a very easy, comfortable kind of life, but later on you will

he boy very simply. "I d

ng all his enthusiasm before her, but she sat behind the bar as calmly a

ld they object? I am very careless sometimes, but that is because I am sti

ive already!" said Paul. "At your age you should be heedless and mer

the church bells and I feel as if I was a bird up in the tower. And haven't I had an amusing time to-day? I enjoyed carrying the box and climbing up ever so high amongst the rocks, and I got there before you

the boy's eyes look upward, so glorious with the light of faith and wonder that

ontinued Paul, much disturbed, "but when we are grown up things look different. One must reflect v

the boy with decision. "Have you repe

soul of this child, to mould it like wax, and that a few careless t

in front of her, wherein she kept her money, and the cornelian rings and the brooches and mother-of-pearl ornaments pledged by the village women in

me time or other," she was thinking, "or else he is in need of money an

ever took part in the discussions between her customers, even though invited to give her opinion, espe

was possessed, wasn't she? Why, I myself felt the devil inside her shaking her like a wolf

hieve all things," admitted the pries

ochus gazed at him

going?" h

o, for she had hoped for a chance of lending money to the parish priest, even at a very low interest, thereby in some way legitimizing her usury in the sight of God. B

y like that! Accept something to dri

holding the tray with

a little,

op. Paul raised his glass, within which the ruby liquid exhaled a perfume like a

the future parish pr

s life. The woman had turned round to replace the precious bottle on the shelf, and, absorbed in his joy, the lad d

came to the wine-shop door, looked round the interio

of Agnes'

ther and remembered that he was not alone and must be careful not to excite remark. So he stood still. But he had no desire to hear what the servant was telling the woman, listening eagerly behind the bar, his only de

, such a stream that we thought she had broken something inside her head! And she's bleeding

e keys of an old church, now demolished, which keys when actually laid on the shoulders of

the tale. She sent her servant to spy on me and endeavour to lure me to

oo proud to confide in anyone, and least of all in her servants. Agnes was really ill, and with his inward eye he saw her sweet fa

e bar glance swiftly in his direction, with o

ervant, but coolly and calmly, as though see

, hard, pointed face thrust out towards him

more frightened than hurt. Then the blood stopped, but she was very pale all day and refused to eat. Then this evening her nose began to bleed again, and not only that, but she had a sort of convulsions, and when I left

though seeking to draw him after her by the sheer power of her

our Reverence g

usly and stammered: "I hardl

My little mistress will be very glad, a

upon the waves. So they crossed the square and went as far as the presbytery, the servant running on ahead, but turning every few steps to look back at them, the whites of her eyes gleaming in the moonlight. Seen thus at night

and then Paul perceived that his mother had locked it. He

t I should not keep my word," he thought to himself; the

pped again and saw the boy returning towards his own home and th

in the face as though trying to recognize her true nature through her outward mask; "if you should

turn in the lock. He could not bring himself to enter, it was beyond his power; neither could he go forward in that other path he

The boy dried it very carefully with a white cloth, which he passed round and round inside with his thumb; then he held it up to the flame of the lamp and examined it with one eye, keeping the other screwe