When the prayer and the ceremony were over, and the viaticum had been
duly administered, the priest returned into the parlour, and Nina
followed him. "He is stronger than I had expected to find him," said
Father Jerome.

"He has rallied a little, Father, because you were coming. You may be
sure that he is very ill."

"I know that he is very ill, but I think that he may still last some
days. Should it be so, I will come again." After that Nina thought that
the priest would have gone; but he paused for a few moments as though
hesitating, and then spoke again, putting down his hat, which he had
taken up. "But what is all this that I hear about you, Nina?"

"All what?" said Nina, blushing.

"They tell me that you have engaged yourself to marry Anton
Trendellsohn, the Jew."

She stood before him confessing her guilt by her silence. "Is it true,
Nina?" he asked.

"It is true."

"I am very sorry for that--very sorry. Could you not bring yourself to
love some Christian youth, rather than a Jew? Would it not be better,
do you think, to do so--for your soul's sake?"

"It is too late now, Father."

"Too late! No; it can never be too late to repent of evil."

"But why should it be evil, Father Jerome? It is permitted; is it not?"

"The law permits it, certainly."

"And when I am a Jew's wife, may I not go to mass?"

"Yes; you may go to mass. Who can hinder you?"

"And if I pray devoutly, will not the saints hear me?"

"It is not for me to limit their mercy. I think that they will hear all
prayers that are addressed to them with faith and humility."

"And you, Father, will you not give me absolution if I am a Jew's
wife?"

"I would ten times sooner give it you as the wife of a Christian, Nina.
My absolution would be nothing to you, Nina, if the while you had a
deep sin upon your conscience." Then the priest went, being unwilling
to endure further questioning, and Nina seated herself in a glow of
triumph. And this was the worst that she would have to endure from the
Church after all her aunt's threatenings--after Lotta's bitter words,
and the reproaches of all around her! Father Jerome--even Father
Jerome himself, who was known to be the strictest priest on that side
of the river in opposing the iniquities of his flock--did not take upon
himself to say that her case as a Christian would be hopeless, were she
to marry the Jew! After that she went to the drawer in her bedroom, and
restored the picture of the Vi