—­Nearly two years, Monseigneur.

—­Two years, ah, ah!  Then the little girl is fourteen.

—­Only thirteen, Monseigneur.

—­Thirteen! thirteen! that is very nice.  At thirteen one is already a grown-up girl.  Are you already a grown-up girl, little rogue?

—­I don’t know.

—­You don’t know, ah, ah.  We are going to see first, if you are modest.  Come close to me; see, little girl, give me your chin, and this pretty little dimple....  Oh, oh! you are laughing, stay, stay ... she has some pretty little dimples on her cheeks too, the little naughty thing.  We are going to make a little confession....  Ah, you are blushing.  Why are you blushing?  You have then some great sins on your conscience?  Come, you are going to tell me all that ... quite low ... in my ear.

—­But, Monseigneur....

—­There is no but, Monseigneur.  It is the condition sine qua non of entering the sisterhood.  You understand that in order to admit a sheep into his flock, the shepherd must be completely edified regarding that fresh sheep....  The sheep then must relate all her wicked sins to her Bishop.  It is God who wills it, it is not I, little girl.  What enters by one ear, goes out directly by the other.  I should be much puzzled, after the confession to repeat a single word of what you have told me.  You know what a speaking-tube is.

—­Yes, Monseigneur.

—­Well, the Confessor’s ear is the speaking-tube of the ear of God.  Has not your Confessor taught you that?

—­Oh, yes, Monseigneur.

—­Well, then, we have nothing to be afraid of, and she must not hesitate to confide to us her little faults.  Even were there very great sins, I shall hear them without making any remonstrance, for that will prove to me that you have confidence in your Bishop.  Come, place yourself there, near me, on your knees.  You have no need to recite your Confiteor; it is only an examination of conscience that we are both going to make.  There! very well, put this little cushion under your knees, you will be less tired.  See, where are we going to begin?

  —­One God only thou shalt adore...

No, no, that is unnecessary; I am fully persuaded that you love God and your parents with all your heart.

  —­The goods of others thou shalt not take...

Ta, ta, ta, I am quite aware that you are not a thief—­a thief has not a pretty little face like that; let us go on at once to the sixth commandment: 

  The works of the flesh thou shalt not desire
  But in marriage only.

There, that is what moat concerns little girls.  Do you know what are the works of the flesh?

—­No, Monseigneur.

—­Oh, it is something very abominable, and I do not know how to explain it to you.  Nevertheless, in order to know if you have sinned against this commandment, I must make myself understood.  Has not your Confessor already spoken to you about it?