"Madre de los Dolores!—And I would have made the sacrifice for that! Juan, you have given me an answer to my uncle's plea. He may break my heart, but he shall not force me to marry against my wish. Rather than that, I will take the veil."
"Become a nun?" I protested.
"If I may not marry you, Juan."
"But you will marry me, Alisanda—you must!"
"How can I, dear? You have yet to cross the gulf."
"Father Rocus—" I began.
"He has spoken for you on that, yet admits a doubt. Can I wed you while I still think of it as a sin—a marriage against God's will?"
A sudden great fear embittered my rapture and dashed me to the earth.
"Alisanda," I pleaded, "is not our love true love? Can such love be wrong in the sight of God?"
"I have prayed the Virgin for hours without answer to that," she sighed. "And when the holy priest admits a doubt—If I do not come to you with a clear conscience, Juan, I shall be unworthy of your love."