“Father, dear father,” she exclaimed in a burst of feeling, “I thank you from my heart for acting as you [pg 684] did! Those wretches were scoffing at our holy religion, but you behaved bravely in defence of the faith. For this they put chains on you, as the heathen did to S. Peter and S. Paul.”
Once more she kissed the chain, then, turning quickly, hastened across the yard to the house.
“Mechtild isn't like the rest of us,” said Holt, smiling. “There's a great deal of spirit in her. I have often noticed it. But I am not astonished at her being roused at the mock procession—I was roused myself. I declare, Mr. Seraphin, it is a shame, a crying shame, that persons are permitted to rail at doctrines and things which we revere as holy. One would almost believe Satan himself was in some people, they take so fanatical a delight in scoffing at a religion which is holy and enjoins nothing but what is good.”
“It is incontestable that infidelity hates and opposes God and religion,” replied Gerlach. “The boasted culture of those who find a pleasure in grossly wounding the most sacred feelings of their neighbors, is wicked and stupid.”
Mechtild returned with a file in her hand.
“Right, my child! I was just thinking of the file myself. Here, cut the catches of the lock.”
He laid his arm across the table. A few strokes of the file caused the lock and remnant of chain to fall from his wrist.
“We will keep this as a precious memento,” said she. “Only think, father, that wicked official ordered you to be manacled, and he is the representative of authority. How can one respect or even pray for authorities when they allow religion to be ridiculed?”
“Pray for your enemies,” answered the countryman gravely.
“I will do so because God commands me; but I shall never again be able to respect the official!”