He told
her how wicked she was, and that, too, when she was to be the bride of
the church; but she said the church had many, many brides, and she would
rather be the bride of Giovanni; and that she loved red-cheeked babies
better than beads, and songs were nicer than prayers. Should she sing
him such a pretty, gay one she knew? And the priest could hardly keep
from laughing at the bright-eyed, naughty, naughty Talila. But he said:
"If Giovanni does not want to marry you, will you then become the bride
of the church?" And Talila laughed aloud and tossed her head. "Giovanni
longs to marry me, Father," she said, "I know that already." But the
Father sent for Giovanni and gave him money if he would say he did
not want to marry Talila. At first he would not say so, but the Father
showed him a purse all full of silver, which Talila's mother had brought
him, for it was she who had vowed Talila should be a nun. Then the
Father said: "This is yours if you say as I wish, and if not, you shall
be cursed forever, and all your children shall be cursed, because you
have married the bride of the church.
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