La Madre by Grazia Deledda

Author:Grazia Deledda [Deledda, Grazia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781912868643
Publisher: Dedalus Ebooks
Published: 2021-01-27T00:00:00+00:00

‘Yes, yes,’ he added quickly, ‘and I shall want a horse. What is the road like?’

‘I will see about the horse and the road,’ said the keeper, ‘that is my duty.’

The priest offered him a drink. On principle the keeper never accepted anything from anyone, not even a glass of wine, but on this occasion he felt that his own civil functions and the priest’s religious functions were so much each a part of the other that he accepted the invitation; so he drank, and emptied the last drops of wine on the ground (since the earth claims her share of whatever man consumes), and expressed his thanks with a military salute. Then the great dog wagged his tail and looked up at Paul with an offer of friendship in his eyes.

Antiochus was ready to open the door again and then returned to the dining-room to await orders. He was sorry for his mother, waiting in vain for the priest in the little room behind the bar, which had been specially cleaned up for the occasion and the tray with glasses placed ready for the guest; but duty before all things and the visit would obviously be impossible that day.

‘What must I prepare?’ he asked, imitating the keeper’s solemn tones. ‘Shall we take the umbrella?’

‘What are you thinking of! I am going on horseback and you need not come at all. I could take you up behind me, however.’

‘No, I will walk, I am never tired,’ urged the boy, and in a few minutes he was ready, with a little box in his hand and his red cope folded over his arm. As far as he was concerned, he would have liked to take the umbrella too, but he was obliged to obey superior orders.

Whilst he was waiting for the priest in front of the church all the ragged urchins who made of the square their regular playground and battlefield gathered round him curiously without venturing too near, and regarded the box with respect not unmixed with terror.

‘Let’s go nearer,’ said one.

‘You keep your distance, or I’ll let loose the keeper’s dog at you!’ shouted Antiochus.

‘The keeper’s dog? Why, you daren’t go within ten miles of him!’ jeered the urchins.

‘Daren’t I?’ said Antiochus with magnificent scorn.

‘No, you daren’t! And you think you’re as good as the Lord Himself because you’re carrying the holy oil!’

‘If I were you,’ advised one open-minded youth, ‘I should make off with that box and perform all kinds of sorceries with the holy oil.’

‘Be off; you horse-fly! The devil that came out of Nina Masia’s body has entered into yours!’

‘What’s that? The devil?’ cried the boys in chorus.

‘Yes,’ said Antiochus solemnly, ‘this very afternoon he drove out a devil from the body of Nina Masia. Here she comes.’

The widow, leading the little girl by the hand, was just coming out of the presbytery; the boys all rushed to meet her and in one moment the news of the miracle spread through the village. Then occurred a scene which recalled that which had taken place on the first arrival of the priest.

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