“Yes,” said he, when he returned to Emma, unfolding his large cotton handkerchief, one corner of which he put between his teeth, “farmers are much to be pitied.”
“Others, too,” she replied.
“Assuredly. Town-labourers, for example.”
“It is not they—”
“Pardon! I’ve there known poor mothers of families, virtuous women, I assure you, real saints, who wanted even bread.”
“But those,” replied Emma, and the corners of her mouth twitched as she spoke, “those, Monsieur le Cure, who have bread and have no—”
“Fire in the winter,” said the priest.
“Oh, what does that matter?”
“What! What does it matter? It seems to me that when one has firing and food—for, after all—”
“My God! my God!” she sighed.