worse than I
had thought. Gowan, it is true, still came to Mass, but he was fond of
boasting to his boon companions that they had got beyond "all that
nonsense in the States!" He had certainly, on his own showing, ceased
to be a practical Catholic for years, and it was probable that his
attendance at Mass and contribution of half a sovereign to the
offertory every Sunday was merely the result of a desire to stand well
in the estimation of the more staid members of the community, and might
be classed with the free drinks and other signs of friendliness to the
district. The character of the man rendered Val naturally anxious
about the future of Christian Logan and her children, if they were to
depend upon him for support in a strange land among strangers.

"The one redeeming feature in his character," summed up Val, "is his
genuine affection for the children. His wife died about two years ago,
it seems, and he is too old to marry again. So he appears to have
devoted himself to the idea of practically adopting these three little
Logans."

"It seems to me a case of body versus soul for the poor little kids, if
they are to trust to that old heathen for a proper bringing up. But
the mother is a good woman, and has a will of her own."

"That's where it is so difficult to do anything," said Val sadly. "She
does not understand the state of the case properly, though I've tried
to make it plain to her. The fellow is an avowed Free Mason. He can
not practise his religion, and in a kind of self-defense he rails
against it--though not openly to Catholics, I believe. She is deluded
enough to imagine that the influence of herself and the children will
win him over to the right path again. But it's far more likely that he
will win the children over to unbelief, if he is to become their
practical parent. Christian acknowledges that his indulgence is
spoiling Tam already."

It was almost dramatic that at that moment a knock at the room door
should prove to be from Elsie, who announced the presence of Christian
Logan in the "priest's room" asking for a few minutes' conversation
with his Reverence.

The interview proved to be somewhat long. Val gave me an account of it
later in the day. Gowan had proposed that Jeemsie should be placed
without delay in an English institution for the deaf and dumb, while
the others traveled a little about Scotland before starting for
America, as he had now decided to do. He had made his m