deserved both. Yrmnts,"[2] the young prelate continued, "I believe I understand Mr. Rose's frame of mind. He has been hit very hard; and he's badly bruised. He is a burnt child; and he dreads the fire. It's only natural. I'm firmly convinced that he has been more sinned against than sinning; and,[Pg 25] though I'm sorry to see him practically keeping us at arms' length, I really don't know what else we can expect until we treat him as we ourselves would like to be treated." [Pg 25] "True, true," the cardinal conceded. "But it's a pity all the same," the bishop concluded. The cardinal audibly thought, "You have perhaps not many very kindly feelings towards me personally, Mr. Rose." "I have no kindly feelings at all toward Your Eminency; and I believe you to be aware of my reasons. I trust that I never should be found wanting in reverence to your Sacred Purple: but apart from that—" indignant recollection stiffened and inflamed the speaker—"indeed I only am speaking civilly to you now because you are the successor of Augustine and Theodore and Dunstan and Anselm and Chichele and Chichester, and because my friend the Bishop of Caerleon has made you my guest for the nonce. My Lord Cardinal, I do not know what you want of me, nor why you have come to me: but let me tell you that you shall not entangle me again in my talk. You are going the Catholic way to work with me; and that is the wrong way. Frankness and open honesty is the only way to win me—if you want me." "Well, well! You were going to give me your own view of your Vocation." "Your Eminency first was about to tell me how you found me after your letters to my publishers had been returned." "I applied to several Catholics who, formerly, had been your friends; and, when they could tell me nothing, I had a letter sent to all the bishops of my province directing inquisition to be made among the clergy. Your personality, if not your name, was certain to be known to at least one of these if you still remained Catholic, you know." [Pg 26] [Pg 26] "If I still remained Catholic!" George growled with contemptuous ire. "People in your position, Mr. Rose, have been known to commit apostasy."
Prev.
Back
Top