"I came here to receive Mrs. Brand back into the Church," he said.
"And you have done so?"
"I have done so."
"Would you mind telling us your name? It makes it so much more convenient."
Percy hesitated. Then he determined to meet her on her own ground.
"Certainly. My name is Franklin."
"Father Franklin?" asked the girl, with just the faintest tinge of mocking emphasis on the first word.
"Yes. Father Percy Franklin, from Archbishop's House, Westminster," said the priest steadily.
"Well, then, Father Percy Franklin; can you tell us why you came here? I mean, who sent for you?"
"Mrs. Brand sent for me."
"Yes, but by what means?"
"That I must not say."
"Oh, very good.... May we know what good comes of being 'received into the Church?'"
"By being received into the Church, the soul is reconciled to God."
"Oh! (Oliver, be quiet.) And how do you do it, Father Franklin?"
Percy stood up abruptly.
"This is no good, madam," he said. "What is the use of these questions?"
The girl looked at him in open-eyed astonishment, still with her hand on her husband's knee.
"The use, Father Franklin! Why, we want to know. There is no church law against your telling us, is there?"
Percy hesitated again. He did not understand in the least what she was after. Then he saw that he would give them an advantage if he lost his head at all: so he sat down again.
"Certainly not. I will tell you if you wish to know. I heard Mrs.
Brand's confession, and gave her absolution."
"Oh! yes; and that does it, then? And what next?"
"She ought to receive Holy Communion, and anointing, if she is in danger of death."
Oliver twitched suddenly.
"Christ!" he said softly.
"Oliver!" cried the girl entreatingly. "Please leave this to me. It is much better so.--And then, I suppose, Father Franklin, you want to give those other things to my mother, too?"
"They are not absolutely necessary," said the priest, feeling, he did not know why, that he was somehow playing a losing game.
"Oh! they are not necessary? But you would like to?"
"I shall do so if possible. But I have done what is necessary."
It required all his will to keep quiet. He was as a man who had armed himself in steel, only to find that his enemy was in the form of a subtle vapour. He simply had not an idea what to do next. He would have given anything for the man to have risen and flown at his throat, for this girl was too much for them both.
"Yes," she said softly. "Well, it is hardly to be expected that my husband should give you leave to come here again. But I am very glad that you have done what you think necessary. No doubt it will be a satisfaction to you, Father Franklin, and to the poor old thing upstairs, too. While we--- _we_--" she pressed her husband's knee--"we do not mind at all. Oh!--but there is one thing more."
"If you please," said Percy, wondering what on earth was coming.
"You Christians--forgive me if I say anything rude--but, you know, you Christians have a reputation for counting heads, and making the most of converts. We shall be so much obliged, Father Franklin, if you will give us your word not to advertise this--this incident. It would distress my husband, and give him a great deal of trouble."
"Mrs. Brand---" began the priest.
"One moment.... You see, we have not treated you badly. There has been no violence. We will promise not to make scenes with my mother. Will you promise us that?"
Percy had had time to consider, and he answered instantly.
"Certainly, I will promise that."
Mabel sighed contentedly.
"Well, that is all right. We are so much obliged.... And I think we may say this, that perhaps after consideration my husband may see his way to letting you come here again to do Communion and--and the other thing---"
Again that spasm shook the man beside her.
"Well, we will see about that. At any rate, we know your address, and can let you know.... By the way, Father Franklin, are you going back to Westminster to-night?"
He bowed.
"Ah! I hope you will get through. You will find London very much excited. Perhaps you heard---"
"Felsenburgh?" said Percy.
"Yes. Julian Felsenburgh," said the girl softly, again with that strange excitement suddenly alight in her eyes. "Julian Felsenburgh," she repeated. "He is there, you know. He will stay in England for the present."
Again Percy was conscious of that slight touch of fear at the mention of that name.
"I understand there is to be peace," he said.
The girl rose and her husband with her.
"Yes," she said, almost compassionately, "there is to be peace. Peace at last." (She moved half a step towards him, and her face glowed like a rose of fire. Her hand rose a little.) "Go back to London, Father Franklin, and use your eyes. You will see him, I dare say, and you will see more besides." (Her voice began to vibrate.) "And you will understand, perhaps, why we have treated you like this--why we are no longer afraid of you--why we are willing that my mother should do its she pleases. Oh! you will understand, Father Franklin if not to-night, to-morrow; or if not to-morrow, at least in a very short time."