"Father, you be marvellous different from all other priests that ever spake to me. With all other, I have shrived me and been absolved, and there ended the matter. I had sins to confess, be sure; and they looked I should so have, and no more. But you--would you have me perfect saint, without sin? None but great saints be thus, as I have been taught." "Not the greatest of saints, truly. There is no man alive that sinneth not. What is sin?" "Breaking the commandments, I reckon." "Ay, and in especial that first and greatest--`Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy mind, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength.' Daughter, hast thou so loved Him--so that neither ease nor pleasure, neither fame nor life, neither earth nor self, came between your love and Him, was set above Him, and served afore Him? Speak truly, like the true woman you are. I wait your answer." It was several moments before the answer came. "Father, is that sin?" "My daughter, it is the sin of sins: the sin whence all other sins flow--this estrangement of the heart from God. For if we truly loved God, and perfectly, should we commit sin?--could we so do? Could we desire to worship any other than Him, or to set anything before Him?-- could we bear to profane His name, to neglect His commands, to go contrary to His will? Should we then bear ill-will to other men who love Him, and whom He loveth? Should we speak falsely in His ears who is the Truth? Should we suffer pride to defile our souls, knowing that He dwelleth with the lowly in heart? Answer me, Lady Marguerite." "Father, you are sore hard. Think you God, that is up in Heaven, taketh note of a white lie or twain, or a few cross words by nows and thens? not to name a mere wish that passeth athwart man's heart and is gone?" "God taketh note of sin, daughter. And sin is _sin_--it is rebellion against the King of Heaven. What think you your son would say to a captain of his, which pleaded that he did but surrender one little postern gate to the enemy, and that there were four other strong portals that led into the town, all whereof he had well defended?" "Why, the enemy might enter as well through the postern as any other. To be in, is to be in, no matter how he find entrance." "Truth. And the lightest desire can be sin, as well as the wickedest deed. Verily, if the desire never arose, the deed should be ill-set to follow." "Then God is punishing me?" she said, wistfully.