ATALANTA IN THE SOUTH
241
have her for my own; she is mine, mine, mine!"
A branch rustled near him, and putting aside the leaves, the priest joined his friend. The old man's holy face was very pale, his eyes shone with the brilliancy of youth. What thoughts had the words of this boisterous lover raised in his heart? He laid his thin hand on the young man's shoulder and said in a faint, low voice, which contrasted as strangely with the full tones that had just now echoed in the forest as did his tall, emaciated body with the powerful frame beside him: "She shall be thine; and when she is dead or faithless, come to me, or if my release has been granted, come to my forest for consolation."
