1
" Margaret looked up at him from where she sat by the window.
"Oh, Brother Gregory, what's wrong with your hand"
"I'm just scratching it; it itches."
"Really, is it red?"
"No, it's just a bite. You gave me a flea."
"I don't have fleas, Brother Gregory," insisted Margaret.
"Everyone has fleas, Margaret. It's part of God's plan."
"I don't. I wash them off."
"Margaret, you haven't any sense at all. They just hop back. You can't wash enough to keep them off."
"I do."
"Aren't you afraid your skin will come off? It could, you know. That's much worse than fleas." Brother Gregory spoke with an air of absolute certainty.
"Everyone tells me that. It hasn't come off yet."
"Margaret, you're too hardheaded for your own good. Now take for your next sentence, 'Fleas do not wash off.'"
"Is this right?" She held up the tablet, and Brother Gregory shook his head in mock indignation.
"I despair of you, Margaret. Flea is not spelled with one e--it's spelled with two. "
― Judith Merkle Riley , A Vision of Light (Margaret of Ashbury, #1)
2
" You haven’t learned anything yet, have you? Don’t you know My hand sustains you?” I began to shiver in the chilly wind, and wrapped my cloak tighter. Then—I just couldn’t help it—I said, “You—have a hand?” “Only in a manner of speaking. I thought you’d understand it better that way.” “Oh, I’m sorry.” “You ought to be. You’re very troublesome, for a woman.” “For a woman—? Are You a man, then, after all?” “I am what people expect Me to be. It’s all they are capable of comprehending. After all, doesn’t it surprise you that I’m speaking in English instead of Latin?” “But I don’t know any Latin.” “Exactly. "
― Judith Merkle Riley , A Vision of Light (Margaret of Ashbury, #1)
3
" Tell me, Brother Gregory, in your opinion can a woman think as well as a man?"
"Properly speaking," he said in a learned voice, "a woman cannot think at all, or at least, think as we men know it. But the imitative ability is very greatly developed in women, so that by copying men, some may attain the appearance of thought. "
― Judith Merkle Riley , A Vision of Light (Margaret of Ashbury, #1)
5
" DON’T LOOK LIKE a midwife,” Brother Gregory interrupted, as he blew on a page to make it dry. His face was averted to conceal his distaste. It is one thing to describe, say, the Virgin with angel attendants, but this woman had no discretion at all. “I’m not one anymore,” replied Margaret, looking at him coldly. “That is self-evident; it’s not an art practiced by women in respectable circumstances,” said Brother Gregory, looking around. “It ought to be the most respected profession in the world—midwives witness how God makes the world new,” said Margaret; "
― Judith Merkle Riley , A Vision of Light (Margaret of Ashbury, #1)
12
" Who put this in your mind, the Devil? He often plants improper desires in women. Women have no reason to write anything at all. They do not take part in great deeds, nor do they think sublime thoughts. These two things are the only proper reasons for writing books. The rest are all vanity, and will lead others into sin. Go home and serve your husband, and thank God that He has made you humble.” I was very discouraged. “Voice,” I said, “you’ve got me a tongue lashing, and I’m sad.” The Voice said, “Keep at it, Margaret. I didn’t think you were the sort of person who gave up so easily.” “It’s really too much for me this time. Everyone’s always telling me what’s impossible, and maybe this time they’re right. No man wants to write down what a woman has to say.” “You just haven’t found the right one yet,” said the Voice. “Keep on looking. "
― Judith Merkle Riley , A Vision of Light (Margaret of Ashbury, #1)
