Then she asked about the other's grief; and having heard the cause, promised to go to the priest herself, and beseech him not to break the staff "Woe" over Sidonia. She went therefore instantly to the church, and found him on his knees praying behind the altar. Whereupon she entreated him, after her fashion, not to break the blessed peace—peace above all things.
Meanwhile the sexton rung the bell, and Sidonia entered, sweeping the nave of the church to the altar, followed by seven or eight nuns. But when she beheld Dorothea come out at one side, and the priest at the other, and that not another soul had been in the church, she laughed aloud mockingly, and clapped her hands—"Ha! the pious priest, would he tell them now what he and Dorothea were doing behind the altar? The sisters were all witnesses how this shameless parson conducted himself." Though she spoke this quite loud for every one to hear, yet not one of the nuns made answer, but stood trembling like doves who see the falcon ready to pounce upon them. Yea, even as Dorothea came down the altar steps to take her place in the choir, my hag laughed loud again like Satan, and cried, "Ah! the chaste virgin! who meetest the priest behind the altar! Thou shameless wanton, the prioress shall teach thee fitter behaviour soon!"
Poor Dorothea turned quite pale with fright, and began—"Ah! dear sister, only listen!"
But the dragon snapped at her, with—"Dear sister, forsooth! What!—was she to bear this insolence? Let her know that the gracious Lady Prioress was not to be talked to as 'dear sister '!"
Here the organ struck up the confession hymn; and the whole congregation being assembled in the church, Sidonia and the seven nuns ascended the steps of the altar, bowed to the priest, and then took their seats, whereupon the organ ceased playing.
After a brief silence, the poor minister sighed heavily, and then spake—"Sidonia, after all that has been stated concerning you, particularly with regard to the death of the convent porter within these last few days, I cannot, as a faithful servant of God, give you either absolution or the holy rite of the Lord's Supper, until you clear yourself from such imputations before a princely consistorium."
At this my hag laughed loud from the altar, crying, "Eh?—that was a strange story. What had she done to the convent porter?"
Ille.—"Prayed him to death, as every one believed, and his appearance proved."
Hæc (still laughing).—"He must have lost his senses. Let him go home and bind asses' milk upon his temples; he would soon be better."
Ille.—"She should remember where and what she spoke. Had she not herself said, she would pray the porter to death?"