Abbe Mouret's Transgression

n she returned to the sacristy with the Missal she no longer found Abbe Mouret there. Having washed his hands and

in. 'It was last winter she hit upon that pretty prank. She said the sparrows were cold, and that God

iest. 'You are always grumbling, La Teuse. Do let our poor Des

her stand in the

hing, everything seems just what it ought to be to you. Your sister is precious lucky in having had you to take charge of her

malice in her. She's like a child of ten, although she's one of the finest grown girls in the neighbourhood. And

hill atmosphere of the dining-room-a large room with painted grey walls, a floor of square tiles, and having no furniture beyon

What a man he was for comfort! Why, he couldn't have digested his food, if he had eaten standing. A Norman he was, from Canteleu, like myself. I don't thank him, I tell you, for having brought me to such a wild-beast count

t put dow

e forgotten, I b

t was about to go out, she ran after him and knelt down at his feet, exclaiming: 'Stop, your shoe-laces are not even fastened. I cannot imagine how your feet can stand those peasant shoes

smile. 'You are very bad-tempered this morning, La Teuse. Are we not happy h

e a holy man, Monsieur le Cure. But come and see what a splendid was

out at all if he did not compliment her on her washing. As he left

this?'

ceiling, now. Isn't it cracked all over? If we don't get buried alive one of these days, we shall owe a precious big taper to our guardian angel. However, if it suits you-It's like the church. Those broke

s to the walls, they are stouter than we think. In my room, the floor has only

pleased the old woman that her attentions became quite motherly. She no longer scolded, but ran to fetch a clothes-brush, saying: 'You surely are not going out with yesterday's mud

und like a child, shaking him from hea

ing from her at last. 'Take care of Desiree,

esh clear voice called

othered up to the elbows with manure. She had been cleaning out her poultry house. When she caught sight of her brother just about to go ou

ld dirty you. Oh! I am having such fun! Yo

back about eleven for luncheon, and as he started, La Teuse, who had

ten, Monsieur le Cure! I met their Rosalie. She'd ask nothing better than to marry big Fortune. Have a talk with old Bambousse; perhap

no more. So she went in agai

likes. To be sure, he's an old man of sixty for holiness; but then he has never