and turned away his face from the maiden in sorrow. She, however,
went up to him with the most winning sweetness, and said:

"Nay, I entreat you first listen to me, before you are angry with me;
for your anger is painful to me, and you ought not to give pain to a
creature that has not hurt you. Only have patience with me, and I
will explain to you every word of what I meant."

It was evident that she had come to say something important; when she
suddenly faltered as if seized with inward shuddering, and burst into
a passion of tears. They were none of them able to understand the
intenseness of her feelings; and, with mingled emotions of fear and
anxiety, they gazed on her in silence. Then, wiping away her tears,
and looking earnestly at the priest, she at last said:

"There must be something lovely, but at the same time something most
awful, about a soul. In the name of God, holy man, were it not
better that we never shared a gift so mysterious?"

Again she paused, and restrained her tears, as if waiting for an
answer. All in the cottage had risen from their seats, and stepped
back from her with horror. She, however, seemed to have eyes for no
one but the holy man; an awful curiosity was painted on her features,
which appeared terrible to the others.

"Heavily must the soul weigh down its possessor," she pursued, when
no one returned her any answer--"very heavily! for already its
approaching image overshadows me with anguish and mourning. And,
alas, I have till now been so merry and light-hearted!" and she
burst into another flood of tears, and covered her face with her