Fromthatmomentshebeginstoliveanewlife，andtounderstandthemagicoflove。Shecarrieshometheblessedbreadtotheancientdame，andretirestoherchambertogiveherselfup，withtheutmostgratefulness，totherapturousdelightofloving。”Ah，”saysJasmininhispoem，”thesorrowingheartayelovethbest！”

　　Yetstillsheremembersthefataldoomofthesorcererthatsheissoldforapricetothedemon。Allseemtobelievethehideoustale，andnoonetakesherpartsavePascalandhergrandmother。ShekneelsbeforeherlittleshrineandpraystotheHolyVirginforhelpandsuccour。

　　AtthenextfetedaysherepairedtothechurchofNotreDamedebonEncontre，[7]wheretheinhabitantsofhalfadozenoftheneighbouringvillageshadassembled，withpriestsandcrucifixes，garlandsandtapers，bannersandangels。Thelatter，girlsabouttobeconfirmed，walkedinprocessionandsangtheAngelusattheappropriatehours。ThereporthadspreadabroadthatFranconnettewouldentreattheBlessedVirgintosaveherfromthedemon。Thestrangersweremorekindtoherthanherimmediateneighbours，andfrommanyapityinghearttheprayerwentupthatamiraclemightbewroughtinfavourofthebeautifulmaiden。Shefelttheirsympathy，anditgaveherconfidence。Thespecialsuppliantspasseduptothealtaronebyone——Anxiousmothers，disappointedlovers，orphansandchildren。Theykneel，theyaskforblessings，theypresenttheircandlesfortheoldpriesttobless，andthentheyretire。

　　NowcametheturnofFranconnette。Pascalwasinsightandprayedforhersuccess。Shewentforwardinahappyframeofmind，withhertaperandabouquetofflowers。Shekneltbeforethepriest。Hetookthesacredimageandpresentedittoher；

　　butscarcelyhadittouchedthelipsoftheorphanwhenaterriblepealofthunderrenttheheavens，andaboltoflightningstruckthespireofthechurch，extinguishinghertaperaswellasthealtarlights。Thiswasamostunluckycoincidencefortheterrifiedgirl；and，coweringlikealostsoul，shecreptoutofthechurch。Thepeoplewereinconsternation。”Itwasalltrue，shewasnowsoldtothedevil！

......

购买会员看全站小说，或者下载APP免费观看所有作品 点击立即下载，搜索"Jasmin",免费读到尾