"Mother means the Parable of the Prodigal Son," interrupted Johanna; and holding the Bible on high, she continued: "Here it is: Gospel of St. Luke, fifteenth chapter, eleventh verse."
"Not you, but Richard, shall read it."
"But, mother--"
"Richard, I wish you to read it."
He had just taken the book, when Annette entered. She asked whether she was disturbing them.
My wife said that she was not, and requested her to sit down at her side.
In a calm and full voice Richard read:
"'And he said, A certain man had two sons:
"'And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
"'And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.