"God forbid!" said the minister, who could no longer control his repugnance.
"Indeed, you look like a man," said Aunt Ursul contemptuously, turning on her heel.
"Are you then entirely God-forsaken, unhappy woman?" said the minister, laying his fleshy hand on Aunt Ursul's shoulder.
"Not I, but you, hare-hearted man," said Aunt Ursul, shaking off his hand and turning vigorously away. "You who always preach about sacrifice and love, and have neither the one nor the other; and shear the cuckoo for the lost lamb, if you can only sit quietly by your flesh-pots. Now then stay, in the devil's name--God forgive me the sin--I shall be able alone to find the road to my poor, misguided boy, and God will give me the right words to touch his heart."
Again Aunt Ursul turned away. The minister slapped his forehead, and with a few rapid steps overtook her as she was hastening from him.
"Aunt Ursul!"
"What do you want?"
"Naturally I will go with you."
"For once."
"For once and every time. By the thousand, woman! why did you not tell me at once that it was something about Conrad?"