Page:Gilbert Parker--The Lane that had No Turning.djvu/140

124 liked him. I was honest. Well, I am honest still. I love him now."

A sound of joy broke from Luc’s lips, and he stretched out his arms to her, but the Curé stopped that.

"Not here," he said. "Your sins must first be considered. For penance—" He paused, looking at the two sad yet happy beings before him. The deep knowledge of life that was in him impelled him to continue gently:

"For penance you shall bear the remembrance of each other’s sins. And now to God the Father"

He turned towards the altar, and raised his hands in the ascription.

As he knelt to pray before he entered the pulpit, he heard the tinkling of the little bell of honour at the knee of Luc, as Junie and Parpon helped him from the church.