"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 Virgin to its place.