Tears rose in Walter’s eyes. He had found Father Jansen a good man, and was grieved that that gentleman should meet with such a reception.
It is to be hoped that those rude words were received by his left ear. In fact, this seemed to be the case, for when Walter said that he was at home now and that his mother was calling him, Father Jansen answered kindly:
“So? You live there? Then I will tell you the next time why I am so deaf in my left ear—entirely deaf, you understand!”
Thank God, Walter thought, and wiped away his tears. In his eyes his mother had committed a sin so grave that about fifty “confiteors” would be necessary for its expiation.
“Oh, yes. I was going to tell you——”
With these words Father Jansen turned around again. He continued: “The flower-pot of the old lady, Juffrouw Dungelaar, you know—it wasn’t for the flowers, you understand, nor for the pot, but only because I could climb so well. Otherwise—one mustn’t take anything away, even if it is so high up. Adieu, young man!”
After giving Juffrouw Pieterse a friendly greeting that she did not deserve, the man continued on his way.
Stoffel said that to walk with a priest was “simply preposterous.”
“As if he were crazy!” said Juffrouw Pieterse.
“Yes,” agreed Stoffel, “but it’s because he has nothing to do but loaf around. If that keeps up, he will never amount to anything.”