The refusal came indeed, and was most
emphatic. Such a thing was out of the question! What was she thinking
of? Then Jeanne begged at least to be left alone with him should she
find him. Noemi did not know what to answer.
"What if I went up before you?" said she. "If I asked for Padre
Clemente, and tried to find out from him what he is, what he is doing,
and what he thinks; this, your--"
Jeanne interrupted her, horrified.
"The Padre? Speak to the Padre?" she exclaimed, pressing both hands to
Noemi's face as though to silence her words. "Woe to you if you speak
to the Padre!"
They started slowly up the rocky mule-path, Jeanne often stopping,
seized with trembling, and vibrating like a taut cord in the wind. In
silence she stretched out her hands that Noemi might feel how cold they
were, and smiled. In the sea of clouds rushing towards the hills the
pale eye of the sun appeared; the sun, too, was curious.
* * * * *
Don Clemente said Mass at about seven o'clock, spoke with the Abbot,
and then went to the Ospizio where pilgrims were sheltered.
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