Compassionating her situation, and allowing for her errors and
ignorance, he answered her with mildness.
"Alas, unhappy woman! Would to God I could convince thee as
easily where thou oughtest to seek, and art sure to find,
consolation, as I can assure you with a single word, that were
Rome and all her priesthood once more in the plenitude of their
power, they could not, for largesse or penance, afford to thy
misery an atom of aid or comfort--Elspat MacTavish, I grieve to
tell you the news."
"I know them without thy speech," said the unhappy woman. "My
son is doomed to die."
"Elspat," resumed the clergyman, "he WAS doomed, and the sentence
has been executed."
The hapless mother threw her eyes up to heaven, and uttered a
shriek so unlike the voice of a human being, that the eagle which
soared in middle air answered it as she would have done the call
of her mate.
"It is impossible!" she exclaimed--"it is impossible! Men do
not condemn and kill on the same day! Thou art deceiving me.
The people call thee holy--hast thou the heart to tell a mother
she has murdered her only child?"
"God knows," said the priest, the tears falling fast from his
eyes, "that were it in my power, I would gladly tell better
tidings.
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