is capable of appreciating."

"And what about ourselves?"

"We are different. We have put this interest aside. I have never
regretted it, and you have not regretted it either."

"Celibacy has never been a trouble to me."

"But, Tom, your own temperament should not prevent you from sympathy
with others. You are not the whole of human nature; you should try to
get a little outside yourself."

"Can one ever do this?" said Father Tom.

"Well, you see what a difficulty your narrow-mindedness has brought you
into."

"I know all that," said Father Tom. "It is no use insisting upon it.
Now will you come with me? They must be married this morning. Will you
come with me? I want you to talk to them. You are kinder than I am. You
sympathise with them more than I do, and it wasn't you who refused to
marry them."

Father John got out of his arm-chair and staggered about the room on
his short fat legs, trying to find his hat. Father Tom said:--

"Here it is. You don't want your umbrella. There's no sign of rain."

"No," said his uncle, "but it will be very hot presently. My dear Tom,
I can't walk fast."

"I am sorry, I didn't know I was walking fast."

"You are walking at the rate of four miles an hour at the least."

"I am sorry, I will walk slower."

At the cross rods inquiry was made, and the priests were told that the
cabin Ned Kavanagh had taken was the last one.

"That's just another half-mile," remarked Father John.

"If we don't hasten we shall be late."

"We might rest here," said Father John, "for a moment," and he leaned
against a gate. "My dear Tom, it seems to me you're agitating yourself
a little unnecessarily about Ned Kavanagh and his wife--I mean the girl
he is going to marry."

"I am quite sure. Ned Kavanagh brought Mary back to his cabin. There
can be no doubt."

"Even so," said Father John. "He may have thought he was married."

"How could he have thought he was married unless he was drunk, and that
cannot be put forward as an excuse. No, my dear uncle, you are inclined
for subtleties this morning."

"He may have thought he was married. Moreover, he intended to be
married, and if through forgetfulness--"

"Forgetfulness!" cried Father Maguire. "A pretty large measure of
forgetfulness!"

"I shouldn't say that a mortal sin has been committed; a venial one
.... If he intended to be married--"

"Oh, my dear uncle, we shall be late, we shall be late!"

Father Stafford repressed the smile