Volume V Part 23 (1/2)
Jeanne only bent her head in feeble resignation
”What do you intend to do?” asked the priest
”What do you wish me to do, Monsieur l'abbe?” she murmured
”Throw yourself in the way as an obstacle to this guilty love,” he answered, violently
She began to cry, and said in a broken voice:
”But he has deceived me before with a servant; he wouldn't listen to me; he doesn't love me now; he ill-treats me if I manifest any desire that does not please him, so what can I do?”
The cure did not make any direct answer to this appeal
”Then you bow before this sin! You submit to it!” he exclaimed ”You consent to and tolerate adultery under your own roof! The cri perpetrated before your eyes, and you refuse to see it! Are you a Christian woman? Are you a wife and a mother?”
”What would you haverather than allow this sin to continue,” he replied
”Anything, I tell you Leave him Flee from this house which has been defiled”
”But I have no money, Monsieur l'abbe,” she replied ”And I am not brave now like I used to be Besides, how can I leave without any proofs of what you are saying? I have not the right to do so”
The priest rose to his feet, quivering with indignation
”You are listening to the dictates of your cowardice, ht you were a different woman, but you are unworthy of God's mercy”
She fell on her knees:
”Oh! Do not abandon me, I implore you Advise me what to do”
”Open M de Fourville's eyes,” he said, shortly ”It is his duty to end this _liaison_”
She was seized with terror at this advice
”But he would kill them, Monsieur l'abbe! And should I be the one to tell him? Oh, not that! Never, never!”
He raised his hand as if to curse her, his whole soul stirred with anger
”Live on in your shauilty than they are You are the ho condones her husband's sin! My place is no longer here”
He turned to go, tre all over rath She followed hi to pro, furiously shaking his big blue uh as hi the pruning of some trees, so he turned off to the left to reach the road by way of the Couillards' far to Jeanne:
”Leavefurther to say to you”