"Thou must learn to fly again now, Hansl," she said, "we're going away."
"Wally," said the priest, much concerned, "what do you mean to do?"
"Your reverence, I must go away--Afra is in there! Is it not plain that I cannot stay? I will do anything, I will all my life go bare and homeless, and wander through the country, and leave everything to him--everything--but I cannot look on at his Afra's love--only that I cannot--cannot bear!" She set her teeth to keep back the springing tears.
"And for his sake you will really give up house and home? Do you know what you are doing, my child?"
"The farm no longer belongs to me, your reverence. Since yesterday I've known that it belongs to Vincenz, whenever he puts in his claim. But my money, what I have besides, shall be for Joseph. If he is crippled by my fault, and cannot earn his bread,--it is my accursed guilt, and I must provide for him."
"What, is it possible," cried the priest, "that your father disinherited you of house and home?"
"What do I care for house and home? The home I belong to is always ready," said Wally.
"Child," said the old man, much disturbed, "you would not do yourself an injury?"
"No, your reverence, never now. I see now how right you are in everything, and that God Almighty will not be defied by us. Perhaps, when He sees that I truly repent, He'll have pity on me and grant peace to my weary soul."
"Now blessed be the hour, hard though it may have been, that broke your proud spirit! Now Wally, you are truly great! But where are you going, my child? Will you go to some charitable refuge? Shall I take you to the Carmelites?"