"How am I to be certain that you will obey
me?"
"My master is obliged to go to Sainte-Adresse. He does not like it,
but he is so truly good he won't deprive me of my Sunday; I will offer
to go for him."
"Go, and I will trust you."
"You are sure I can do nothing for you in Havre?"
"Nothing. Hear me, mysterious dwarf,--look," she continued, pointing
to the cloudless sky; "can you see a single trace of that bird that
flew by just now? No; well then, my actions are pure as the air is
pure, and leave no stain behind them. You may reassure Dumay and the
Latournelles, and my mother. That hand," she said, holding up a pretty
delicate hand, with the points of the rosy fingers, through which the
light shone, slightly turning back, "will never be given, it will
never even be kissed by what people call a lover until my father has
returned."
"Why don't you want me in the church to-day?"
"Do you venture to question me after all I have done you the honor to
say, and to ask of you?"
Butscha bowed without another word, and departed to find his master,
in all the rapture of being taken into the service of his goddess.
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