"A mother ought not to say that! But I don't know what I should do--I don't know--I believe I'd die--but I shouldn't want to see him again.

But what do you think about it, Capitana Maria ?" "After all," added Sister Rufa, "it must not be forgotten that it's a great sin to place your hand on a sacred person." "A father's memory is more sacred!" replied Capitana Maria.

"No one, not even the Pope himself, much less Padre Damaso, may profane such a holy memory." "That's true!" murmured Capitana Tinay, admiring the wisdom of both.

"Where did you get such good ideas ?" "But the excommunication and the condemnation ?" exclaimed Sister Rufa.

"What are honor and a good name in this life if in the other we are damned?
Everything passes away quickly--but the excommunication--to outrage a minister of Christ! No one less than the Pope can pardon that!" "God, who commands honor for father and mother, will pardon it, God will not excommunicate him! And I tell you that if that young man comes to my house I will receive him and talk with him, and if I had a daughter I would want him for a son-in-law; he who is a good son will be a good husband and a good father--believe it, Sister Rufa!" "Well, I don't think so.