“Yes,” he said, “there are people who think I am a reactionist because I put down the ball-alley.”
“The ball-alley!”
“There used to be a ball-alley by the church, but the boys wouldn’t stop playing ball during Mass, so I put it down. But you will excuse me a moment.” The priest darted off, and I saw him climb down the wall into the road; he ran a little way along the road calling at the top of his voice, and when I got to the wall I saw him coming back. “Let me help you,” I said. I pulled him up and we continued our walk; and as soon as he had recovered his breath he told me that he had caught sight of a boy and girl loitering.
“And I hunted them home.”
I asked him why, knowing well the reason, and he said:—
“Young people should not loiter along the roads. I don’t want bastards in my
