"Is it true, Nina ?" he asked.
"It is true." "I am very sorry for that--very sorry.

Could you not bring yourself to love some Christian youth, rather than a Jew?
Would it not be better, do you think, to do so--for your soul's sake ?" "It is too late now, Father." "Too late! No; it can never be too late to repent of evil." "But why should it be evil, Father Jerome?
It is permitted; is it not ?" "The law permits it, certainly." "And when I am a Jew's wife, may I not go to mass ?" "Yes; you may go to mass.

Who can hinder you ?" "And if I pray devoutly, will not the saints hear me ?" "It is not for me to limit their mercy.

I think that they will hear all prayers that are addressed to them with faith and humility." "And you, Father, will you not give me absolution if I am a Jew's wife ?" "I would ten times sooner give it you as the wife of a Christian, Nina.
My absolution would be nothing to you, Nina, if the while you had a deep sin upon your conscience." Then the priest went, being unwilling to endure further questioning, and Nina seated herself in a glow of triumph.

And this was the worst that she would have to endure from the Church after all her aunt's threatenings--after Lotta's bitter words, and the reproaches of all around her! Father Jerome--even Father Jerome himself, who was known to be the strictest priest on that side of the river in opposing the iniquities of his flock--did not take upon himself to say that her case as a Christian would be hopeless, were she to marry the Jew! After that she went to the drawer in her bedroom, and restored the picture of the Virgin to its place..