her husband, and to declare that he himself would never see her more.

Rejected thus on all sides, the poor unfortunate withdrew to a home in
which she was fated to meet with better treatment from her husband than
she had deserved.

"You see, ladies, why I say that if the poor husband had been more
watchful over his wife, he would not thus have lost her. A thing that is
well guarded is difficult to lose, but heedlessness makes the thief."

"'Tis a strange thing," said Hircan, "how strong love is just where it
seems most unreasonable."

"I have heard," said Simontault, "that it were easier to break two
marriages than to sunder the love of a priest and his serving-maid."

"I believe it," said Ennasuite; "for those who bind others together in
marriage, are so well able to tie the knot that nought but death can
destroy it. Theologians, moreover, hold that spiritual language is of
more effect than any other, and in consequence spiritual love surpasses
any other kind."

"It is a thing that I cannot forgive in ladies," said Dagoucin, "when
they forsake an honourable husband or a lover for a priest, however
handsome and worthy the latter may be."

"I pray you, Dagoucin," said Hircan, "intermeddle not with our Holy
Mother Church. Be assured that 'tis a great delight for timorous and
secret-loving women to sin with those who can absolve them; for there
are some who are more ashamed to confess a thing than to do it."