one wrong. You have not,
have you, been guilty toward your husband of any of those excusable
acts of violence which may escape a Christian soul when it is struggling
against error? For it really is not natural that an honest man should
refuse to follow the prescription of the Church. Make a few concessions
at first."

"I have, father, and perhaps too many," she said, contritely.

"What do you mean?"

"Hoping to bring him back to God, I accorded him favors which I ought
to have refused him. I may be wrong, but it seems to me that I ought to
have refused him."

"Do not be alarmed, my dear child, everything depends upon degrees, and
it is necessary in these matters to make delicate distinctions."

"That is what I say to myself, father, but my husband unites with his
kindness such a communicative gayety--he has such a graceful and natural
way of excusing his impiety--that I laugh in spite of myself when I
ought to weep. It seems to me that a cloud comes between myself and my
duties, and my scruples evaporate beneath the charm of his presence and
his wit. My husband has plenty of wit," she added, with a faint smile,
in which there was a tinge of pride.

"Hum! hum!" (the blackness of this man's heart revolted me). "There is
no seductive shape that the tempter does not assume, my child. Wit in
itself is not to be condemned, although the Church shuns it as far as
she is concerned, looking upon it as a worldly ornament; but it may
become dangerous, it may be reckoned a veritable pest when it tends to
weaken faith. Faith, which is to the soul, I hardly need tell you,
what the bloom is to the peach, and--if I may so express myself, what
the--dew is--to the flower--hum, hum! Go on, my child."

"But, father, when my husband has disturbed me for a moment, I soon
repent of it. He has hardly gone before I pray for him."

"Good, very good."

"I have sewn a blessed medal up in his overcoat." This was said more
boldly, though still with some timidity.

"And have you noticed any result?"

"In certain things he is better, yes, father, but as regards abstinence
he is still intractable," she said with embarrassment.

"Do not be discouraged. We are in the holy period of Lent. Make use of
pious subterfuges, prepare him some admissible viands, but pleasant to
the taste."

"Yes, father, I have thought of that. The day before yesterday I gave
him one of these salmon pasties that resemble ham."

"Yes, yes, I know them. Well?"

"