JК
Sharpes Havoc :: Корнуэлл Бернард
Страница: 62 из 242„Tell me, Father,” he went on, „do you look after the poor in your parish?”
„It is a Christian duty,” Father Josefa said.
Christopher took some golden English guineas from his pocket. They were not his, but from the funds supplied by the Foreign Office to smooth his way, and now he folded the priest’s hand around the coins. „Let me give you that as a contribution to your charitable work,” he said, „and let me beg you to give us a blessing, that is all. A blessing in Latin, Father, that will enjoin God’s protection on us in these troubled times. And later, when the fighting is over, I shall do my best to persuade Kate to take instruction from you. As I will too, of course.”
Father Josefa, son of a laborer, looked at the coins and thought he had never seen so much money at one time and he thought of all the difficulties the gold could allay. „I cannot say a mass for you,” he insisted.
„I do not want a mass,” Christopher said, „and I do not deserve a mass. I just want a blessing in Latin.” He wanted Kate to believe she was married and, so far as Christopher was concerned, the priest could gabble the words of the funeral rite if he wanted. „Just a blessing from you, Father, is all I want. A blessing from you, from God, and from the saints.” He took another few coins from his pocket and gave them to the priest, who decided a prayer of blessing could not possibly hurt.
„And you will take instruction?” Father Josefa asked.
„I have felt God pulling me toward your church for some time,” Christopher said, „and I believe I must heed His call. And then, Father, you may marry us properly.”
So Father Josefa kissed his scapular and then draped it about his shoulders and he went to the altar where he knelt, made the sign of the cross and then stood and turned to smile at Kate and the tall, handsome man at her side. The priest did not know Kate well, for the Savage family had never been familiar with the villagers and certainly did not attend the church, but the servants at the Quinta spoke approvingly of her and Father Josefa, though he was celibate, could appreciate that this girl was a rare beauty and so his voice was full of warmth as he enjoined God and the holy saints to look with kindness on these two souls. He felt guilty that they would behave as married people even though they were not married, but such things were common and in wartime a good priest knew when to close his eyes.
„It is a Christian duty,” Father Josefa said.
Christopher took some golden English guineas from his pocket. They were not his, but from the funds supplied by the Foreign Office to smooth his way, and now he folded the priest’s hand around the coins. „Let me give you that as a contribution to your charitable work,” he said, „and let me beg you to give us a blessing, that is all. A blessing in Latin, Father, that will enjoin God’s protection on us in these troubled times. And later, when the fighting is over, I shall do my best to persuade Kate to take instruction from you. As I will too, of course.”
Father Josefa, son of a laborer, looked at the coins and thought he had never seen so much money at one time and he thought of all the difficulties the gold could allay. „I cannot say a mass for you,” he insisted.
„I do not want a mass,” Christopher said, „and I do not deserve a mass. I just want a blessing in Latin.” He wanted Kate to believe she was married and, so far as Christopher was concerned, the priest could gabble the words of the funeral rite if he wanted. „Just a blessing from you, Father, is all I want. A blessing from you, from God, and from the saints.” He took another few coins from his pocket and gave them to the priest, who decided a prayer of blessing could not possibly hurt.
„And you will take instruction?” Father Josefa asked.
„I have felt God pulling me toward your church for some time,” Christopher said, „and I believe I must heed His call. And then, Father, you may marry us properly.”
So Father Josefa kissed his scapular and then draped it about his shoulders and he went to the altar where he knelt, made the sign of the cross and then stood and turned to smile at Kate and the tall, handsome man at her side. The priest did not know Kate well, for the Savage family had never been familiar with the villagers and certainly did not attend the church, but the servants at the Quinta spoke approvingly of her and Father Josefa, though he was celibate, could appreciate that this girl was a rare beauty and so his voice was full of warmth as he enjoined God and the holy saints to look with kindness on these two souls. He felt guilty that they would behave as married people even though they were not married, but such things were common and in wartime a good priest knew when to close his eyes.