The refusal came indeed, and was most emphatic.

Such a thing was out of the question! What was she thinking of?
Then Jeanne begged at least to be left alone with him should she find him.

Noemi did not know what to answer.
"What if I went up before you ?" said she.

"If I asked for Padre Clemente, and tried to find out from him what he is, what he is doing, and what he thinks; this, your--" Jeanne interrupted her, horrified.
"The Padre?
Speak to the Padre ?" she exclaimed, pressing both hands to Noemi's face as though to silence her words.

"Woe to you if you speak to the Padre!" They started slowly up the rocky mule-path, Jeanne often stopping, seized with trembling, and vibrating like a taut cord in the wind.