I agreed to pay her three roubles a month, and have regularly fulfilled my promise, but lately she has thought it not enough, and she made a complaint to the Bishop.

Last week I went to him to defend myself, but as I had not money enough for all the officials in the Consistorium, I could not obtain justice.

My mother-in-law had made all sorts of absurd accusations against me, and consequently I was laid under an inhibition for six weeks!" "And what is the effect of an inhibition ?" "The effect is that I cannot perform the ordinary rites of our religion.
It is really very unjust," he added, assuming an indignant tone, "and very annoying.

Think of all the hardship and inconvenience to which it gives rise." As I thought of the hardship and inconvenience to which the parishioners must be exposed through the inconsiderate conduct of the old mother-in-law, I could not but sympathise with my new acquaintance's indignation.

My sympathy was, however, somewhat cooled when I perceived that I was on a wrong tack, and that the priest was looking at the matter from an entirely different point of view.
"You see," he said, "it is a most unfortunate time of year.