Chapter 15: The Crowing of the Cock

⁠​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌⁠A loud step roused the rapt enthusiast from her visions. The sacristan was passing through the church, extinguishing the candles which, meanwhile, had burned down in their sockets before the Madonna in the distant corner.

"I beg your pardon for disturbing you," he said; "but I wanted to close the church. There is plenty of time, however. Shall I leave a candle? It will be too dark; the lamp alone d