acred traditions.

The Church, on the other hand, in the august person of the Archbishop,
had accomplished a triumph. She had recognized the child's unusual
gifts of mind, and had been alert to the dangers they threatened. If
secured to herself, and their development carefully directed, they
would mold him into her future champion. If, despite her careful
weeding and pruning, they expanded beyond the limits which she set,
_they should be stifled_! The peculiar and complex nature of the child
offered her a tremendous advantage. For, if reactionary, his own
highly developed sense of honor, together with his filial devotion and
his intense family pride, should of themselves be forced to choke all
activity in the direction of apostasy and liberalism. Heaven knew, the
Church could not afford to neglect any action which promised to secure
for her a loyal son; or, failing that, at least effectually check in
its incipiency the development of a threatened opponent! Truly, as the
astute secretary had said, this boy might prove troublesome within the
fold; but he might also prove more dangerous without. Verily, it was
a triumph for the cause of righteousness! And after the final
disposition, the good Archbishop had sat far into the night in the
comfort of his _sanctum_, drowsing over his pleasant meditations on
the rewards which his unflagging devotion to the cause of Holy Church
was sure some day to bring.

Time sped. The fragrant Sevillian spring melted into summer, and
summer merged with fall. The Rincon family was adjusting itself to the
turn in the career of its heir, the guardian and depository of its
revived hopes. During the weeks which intervened between his first
interview with the Archbishop and his final departure for Rome, Jose
had been carefully prepared by his uncle, who spared no effort to
stimulate in the boy a proper appreciation of his high calling. He was
taught that as a priest of the Holy Catholic Church he would become a
representative of the blessed Christ among men. His mission would be
to carry on the Saviour's work for the salvation of souls, and, with
the power of Christ and in His name, to instruct mankind in true
beliefs and righteous conduct. He would forgive sins, impose
penalties, and offer sacrificial atonement in the body of the
Saviour--in a word, he was to become _sacerdos alter Christus_,
another Christ. His training for this exalted work would cover a
period of six or eight years, perhaps l