"Señorita, for God's sake!"
"The sooner, the better, for I shall get cold."
In this way she wished to bring still greater pressure to bear on her servant. With a nervous movement she snatched the scourge from her left hand, thrust it into her right; again threw her arms around her neck, and giving her a kiss, whispered very softly, in a joyous tone,—
"You must ply it vigorously, for so I have promised God."
A violent trembling took possession of her body, as she said these words; but it was a delicious trembling, which penetrated to the very depths of her being. Then, taking Genoveva by the hand, she pulled her toward the table where the Saviour's image stood.
"Here it must be,—kneeling before our Lord."
Her voice choked in her throat. She was pale. She bent humbly before the image, rapidly made the sign of the cross, folded her hands over her breast, and turning her face toward her maid, said, with a sweet smile,—
"Now you can begin."
"Señorita, for God's sake!" exclaimed Genoveva, in perfect trepidation.
Through the señorita's eyes flashed a gleam of anger, which instantly died away; but she said, in a tone of considerable irritation:—