—Ah, they are all like that. Eating! Eating! They only think of eating! It appeals that they have said everything when they have said: "Who will give me to eat?" That is the great argument to excuse the lowest callings, and work on Sundays. Eating? Eating? Eh, unhappy child, and your soul? You must not think only of your body, which will be one day eaten by worms. Your soul also requires to eat.
Marcel interrupted.
—Uncle, I ask you to excuse this young person. She is ignorant of the duties of a Christian, and it is not her fault. This is a soul to guide.
—I do not say that it is not; I wish then that she may find someone to guide her.
Thereupon he opened his breviary; but he had not finished the second page of that potent narcotic before he was sound asleep.
LXXXI.
A LITTLE CONFESSION
"Let us not ask of the tree what fruit it bears."
CAMILLE LEMONNIER (Mes Medailles).
—Monsieur le Curé is a trifle abrupt, said Marcel, bat he has an excellent heart.