And there, after a few faintest words of confession from the sick man, Nina knelt by her father's bedside, while the priest prayed for them both, and forgave the sinner his sins, and prepared him for his further journey with such preparation as the extreme unction of his Church would afford.
When the prayer and the ceremony were over, and the viaticum had been duly administered, the priest returned into the parlour, and Nina followed him.

"He is stronger than I had expected to find him," said Father Jerome.
"He has rallied a little, Father, because you were coming.

You may be sure that he is very ill." "I know that he is very ill, but I think that he may still last some days.

Should it be so, I will come again." After that Nina thought that the priest would have gone; but he paused for a few moments as though hesitating, and then spoke again, putting down his hat, which he had taken up.

"But what is all this that I hear about you, Nina ?" "All what ?" said Nina, blushing.
"They tell me that you have engaged yourself to marry Anton Trendellsohn, the Jew." She stood before him confessing her guilt by her silence.