“Nay, thou hast done all and more than is expected of thee.”

“How, more?”

“’Twas brave to go at all after hearing of his Majesty’s demeanour.”

“But I was not very much afraid; indeed, I became very calm as I entered his presence.”

“If I understand, thou wert ambitious to become a Maid of Honour.”

“At one time, but having better acquaintance with the Court, I feel my ardour has cooled.”

“We have gone somewhat astray, my child.  We will finish thy confessions for I soon must leave thee.  Indeed, if this is the weighty part of thy sins, there is no need to confess any more.”

“One thing I am particularly anxious to inquire of thee.  Since love comes and we cannot help it, ’twould be wrong not to give it place?”

“If the love is love and not masquerading passion, and it comes from one who is not altogether unworthy of thee?”

“Indeed, he is most worthy, barring his religion, which is Protestant.  I would have advice upon this matter, for I believe the love is mutual.”

“My child, if his heart is good and true, and thou lovest him, and he thee, the manner of worshipping God should not be of question, since one shows his love one way and another another.  The common scullion, who, from year’s end to year’s end sees not inside the holy sanctuary, may carry in his heart the divine image of God and pay him homage every breath he draws; while he who walks in sacred robes and abides ever in the shadow of the cross, taking part in all the forms, pomps, vanities and varied monotony, may have Satan within him and breathes out flames of hell as he intones.  We can in all things beside religion discern punctilio.  There is no sect that has the control of the Holy Spirit; it is the exclusive property of the individual who gains the right and title of it by the keeping of the ten commandments.  So, if thou art sure thou dost love the youth, and art most sure he loves thee sincerely, then—­”

“Then, indeed, I am most happy; for I am sure he is noble and good and—­loves me.”

“When didst thou learn that he loved thee; for if I mistake not, thou wert recently bent upon marrying one Adrian Cantemir, who, I must declare, is altogether unworthy of a maid who doth possess such virtue.”

“I have learned to since—­since—­I can’t tell when—­I knew I loved him—­yesterday—­the day before.  I know it now.  I tremble when I think of how well I love him.  I have been so uncertain, Father.  I thought I loved this one, and then another, and for a time I was not sure I knew what love was.  Then it came to me on a sudden that I would rather die than live all my life without the one I so desired.  And yesterday I knew of a certainty that I loved and that I was loved.”

“Yesterday?”—­and the priest winced, and there was pain in the tone of his voice as he uttered the word.

“Aye, yesterday—­I was thinking.  I thought of his kindness to me—­of the deference he has shown me, of his great patience toward me; and I saw how well he loved me.”