ing to be a priest? We are glad to hear that, Peter."

"How is that?"

He had thought over what he should say, and without waiting to hear why
they were glad, he told them the professor, who overlooked his essays,
had refused to recognize their merits--he had condemned the best things
in them; and Peter said it was extraordinary that such a man should be
appointed to such a place. Then he told that the Church afforded little
chances for the talents of young men unless they had a great deal of
influence.

And they sat listening to him, hearing how the college might be
reformed. He had a gentle, winning way of talking, and his father and
brother forgot their own misfortunes thinking how they might help him.

"Well, Peter, you have come back none too soon."

"And how is that? What have you been doing since I went away? You all
wanted to hear about Maynooth."

"Of course we did, my boy. Tell him, James."

"Oh! it is nothing particular," said James. "It is only this, Peter--I
am going to America."

"And who will work the farm?"

"Well, Peter, we were thinking that you might work it yourself."

"I work the farm! Going to America, James! But what about Catherine?"

"That's what I'm coming to, Peter. She has gone into a convent. And
that's what's happened since you went away. I can't stop here, Peter--I
will never do a hand's turn in Ireland--and father is getting too old
to go to the fairs. That's what we were thinking when you came in."

There was a faint tremble in his voice, and Peter saw how heart-sick
his brother was.

"I will do my best, James."

"I knew you would."

"Yes, I will," said Peter; and he sat down by the fire.

And his father said:--

"You are not smoking, Peter."

"No," he said; "I've given up smoking."

"Will you drink something?" said James. "We have got a drain of whiskey
in the house."

"No, I have had to give up spirits. It doesn't agree with me. And I
don't take tea in the morning. Have you got any cocoa in the house?"

It was not the cocoa he liked, but he said he would be able to manage.

IV

And when the old man came through the doorway in the morning buttoning
his braces, he saw Peter stirring his cocoa. There was something absurd
as well as something attractive in Peter, and his father had to laugh
when he said he couldn't eat American bacon.

"My stomach wouldn't retain it. I require very little, but that little
must be the best."

And when James took him into t