turned from the altar to follow the server, laden with the cruets and
finger-cloth, to the sacristy, the planet remained sole master of the
church. Its rays in turn now rested on the altar-cloth, irradiating the
tabernacle-door with splendour, and celebrating the fertile powers of
May. Warmth rose from the stone flags. The daubed walls, the tall
Virgin, the huge Christ, too, all seemed to quiver as with shooting sap,
as if death had been conquered by the earth's eternal youth.



III

Le Teuse hastily put out the candles, but lingered to make one last
attempt to drive away the sparrows, and so when she returned to the
sacristy with the Missal she no longer found Abbe Mouret there. Having
washed his hands and put away the sacred vessels and vestments, he was
now standing in the dining room, breakfasting off a cup of milk.

'You really ought to prevent your sister from scattering bread in the
church,' said La Teuse on coming in. 'It was last winter she hit upon
that pretty prank. She said the sparrows were cold, and that God might
well give them some food. You see, she'll end by making us sleep with
all her fowls and rabbits.'

'We should be all the warmer,' pleasantly replied the young priest. 'You
are always grumbling, La Teuse. Do let our poor Desiree pet her animals.
She has no other pleasure, poor innocent!'

The servant took her stand in the centre of the room.