Abbe Mouret's Transgression

nt in a desert. From the trees all along the sunken road disturbing moisture had fallen on his neck, which now the burning sun was drying. The sight of the lean almond trees, t

ger cast even a shadow. A thrill of pleasure ran through the priest as he raised his head and caugh

of kitchen ware which he would hear the whole afternoon. When he had got through Les Artaud, his fear became so lively that he hesitated, full of trepidation, and wondered if it would not be better to go round and reach the parsonage by way of the church. Bu

good Teuse,' he stammered, as

ce, and, without a word, turned and stalked before him into the dining-room, banging h

he priest, scared by this dumb reception.

began to eat. She waited on him in the sharp, mechanical manner of an automaton, all but breaking the plates with the violence w

ed. 'Quite right of her. Luncheon should

, feeling that he could not possibly eat with those implacable eyes crushing him, he pushed his plate away. This

emper! Very well, I am off; you can pay my fare, so that I may go back hom

er apron with

s do such things, Monsieur le Cure! This is eleven o'clock, ain't it! Aren't you ashamed of sitting

n like a tramp without a roof to put over his head. A fine state you are in, with your shoes all white and your cassock smothered in dust! Who will brush your cassock for you? Who will buy you another one? Speak out, will you; tell me what you have b

him. At the old servant's wrathful w

e said, 'you will first

ied, 'it's all o

nd stuttered: 'I tell you no! You are a wheedler. I can see through your game, I see you

ble again like a man wh

wed to eat. I am dying

ake long. Well, if you have enough. But everything is cold! And I had taken such pains with your aubergines! Nice they are now! They look

st outrageously in her delight at having made things up with him. As a rule Abbe Mouret fought shy of coffee, which always upset his nervous system; but on this occasion, to

ou been, Mons

ile, 'I have seen the Brichet

of Rosalie's father, 'Of course!' she exclaimed, 'if the child should die her mishap would go for nothing.' And clasping her hands with a look of envious admiration she added,

sking for some information concerning it. But a fear of being flooded with eager questions, and a kind of vague una

sister? I don

use, beginning to laugh, and

overed with horse-hair. On the sofa now slept Desiree, stretched out at full length, with her head resting on her clenched hands. The pronounced curve of he

now. Well, she must be precious tired. Just fancy, she was cleaning up her yard till nearly noon. And

gly at her. 'We must let her have a

ess her I always think what a fine woman she would have made. Ay, she would have brought you s

ly pushed her out of the room, and begged her to make as little noise as possible. Till evening, therefore, perfect silence settled on the parsonage. La Teuse finished her washing in the shed. T