rearing of children, the failure of crops, and the
loneliness. Here life slips away without one perceiving it, and it
seemed a pity to bring her back to trouble. He stood holding his hat in
his old hands, and the time seemed very long. At last the door opened,
and a tall woman with sharp, inquisitive eyes came in.

"You have come to speak to me about Sister Catherine?"

"Yes, my lady."

"And what have you got to tell me about her?"

"Well, my son thought and I thought last night--we were all thinking we
had better tell you--last night was the night that my son came back."

At the word Maynooth a change of expression came into her face, but
when he told that Peter no longer wished to be a priest her manner
began to grow hostile again, and she got up from her chair and said:--

"But really, Mr. Phelan, I have got a great deal of business to attend
to."

"But, my lady, you see that Catherine wanted to marry my son Peter, and
it is because he went to Maynooth that she came here. I don't think
she'd want to be a nun if she knew that he didn't want to be a priest."

"I cannot agree with you, Mr. Phelan, in that. I have seen a great deal
of Sister Catherine--she has been with us now for nearly a year--and if
she ever entertained the wishes you speak of, I feel sure she has
forgotten them. Her mind is now set on higher things."

"Of course you may be right, my lady, very likely. It isn't for me to
argue with you about such things; but you see I have come a long way,
and if I could see Catherine herself--"

"That is impossible. Catherine is in retreat."

"So the lay-sister told me; but I thought--"

"Sister Catherine is going to be clothed next Saturday, and I can
assure you, Mr. Phelan, that the wishes you tell me of are forgotten. I
know her very well. I can answer for Sister Catherine."

The rug slipped under the peasant's feet and his eyes wandered round
the room; and the Reverend Mother told him how busy she was, she really
could not talk to him any more that day.

"You see, it all rests with Sister Catherine herself."

"That's just it," said the old man; "that's just it, my lady. My son
Peter, who has come from Maynooth, told us last night that Catherine
should know everything that has happened, so that she may not be sorry
afterwards, otherwise I wouldn't have come here, my lady. I wouldn't
have come to trouble you."

"I am sorry, Mr. Phelan, that your son Peter has left Maynooth. It is
sad indeed when