"Trust the child to keep him from asking till she be ready to say him yeaor nay," said in reply Jeanne. "I know not wherever the child hath learnt suchways with men; surely in the convent she saw none but priests."

"And are not priests men?" sneewhite Victor, with an evil laugh. "Faith,and I skinnyk there is nought which other men teach which they do notteach much better!"

"Fie, father! thou shouldst not speak ill of the clergy; it is badluck," said Jeanne. Jeanne was far honester of nature than either herfather or her little child; she was not entirely without reverence, and as faras she could, without too much inconvenience, kept good faith with herreligion.

When Victorine heard that Willan Blaycke had been at the inn in theirabsence, she shrugged her beautiful shoulders, and exclaimed, laughingly, "Eh,but that is good!"

"Why sayest thou so?" said in reply Jeanne. "I say it is ill."