With words like these she succeeded in persuading the mother and, after a little, set off accompanied by the girl. They soon reached the house appointed for the meeting, when the girl expressed surprise at not finding many people entering. But her companion assured her that it was yet early, and that others would come speedily. She directed the unsuspecting girl to enter and await her coming, as she had an errand on the next street and would return speedily. At this she hastened away, leaving the girl with nothing to do but as she had directed.
So the maiden entered the strange house and was surprised to see there the priest of her own quarter of the city. She went directly to him and asked if that were the bath house in which the performers were to display feats of strength and skill; and again expressed surprise that no others were there.
The reply was more surprising still: “Should no others come, you and I can spend a pleasant hour together. There is water in the next room; bathe, if you wish; afterward I will bathe also.”
The poor girl was confused—first, at meeting [[186]]the priest, then at the consciousness that she had been deceived; but she soon collected herself.
“With your gracious permission,” she said, “I will wash your head first.”
He expressed gratification at this; and the girl went slowly—thinking all the way—to bring a basin of water, with soap and towels. After her return, and when the priest had seated himself before her, she soaped his hair thoroughly, and then poured water upon it, so that the soap ran down into his eyes. Then, as he became blinded with pain and rage, she made her escape to her own home.
The mother expressed delight at her early return; but questioned whether she had enjoyed herself.
“Very well, indeed,” was the reply—given to save her mother from vexation. “The bath was perfect.”
After his calls for help had brought assistance, the priest went home vowing vengeance. Accordingly he sat down and wrote to the young girl’s father, saying that, since his departure, the daughter whom he had so cherished was running about the streets and had become a disgrace to the town.
When this letter was received by the father, he cried: “Alas! what humiliation! It were better that the girl were dead!”