Page:The Way of a Virgin.djvu/219

Rh And he fell to crying with all the strength of his lungs:

"Little father! The deluge! The deluge!"

The priest heard the voice of the strolling player, and, half asleep, sought to cast himself, together with the trough, straight into the water, but instead he fell heavily on the ground, bruising himself all over.

"Ah! my God!" he cried. "When a child falleth, the good Lord placeth a cushion under it, but when an old man tumbeth, the devil putteth a harrow beneath him. Behold me all sore and bruised. Of a certainly I shall ne'er find that brigand of a labourer."

Quoth the labourer to the priest:

"Seek him no more, I counsel thee. Go home, and may the Lord go with thee. It were better for thy health."