Letheby came in and sat down to a late dinner, I told him
all. He was deeply affected.

"There is some tremendous mine of the gold of human excellence in these
good people," he said; "but the avenues to it are so tortuous and
difficult, it seems hardly worth while seeking for. They are capable of
the most stupendous sacrifices provided they are out of the common; but
it is the regular system and uniformity of the natural and human law
that they despise. But have you any letter for me?"

"None. But here is a tremendous indictment against myself from Duff."

"No letter from the bishop?" he said despondently, as he opened and read
the letter, which ran thus:--

Atheloy, 13/10/7--.

Rev. dear Father Dan:--How has all this miserable business
occurred? Well, to our minds, you alone are culpable and
responsible. We must seem to Letheby to be utter caitiffs and
cowards, to allow matters to come to such a horrible crisis,
especially in the case of a sensitive fellow like him. But up to
the date of that horrible exposure in Stubbs', we had no idea there
were complications with those factory people--nothing, in fact,
beyond the responsibilities of that unhappy boat. Now, why didn't
you let us know? You may not be aware that the evening of the
disaster I made a solemn engagement to stand by him to the end; and
now all this must seem the merest braggadocio. And yet, the thing
was a trifle. Would you tell Letheby now, that it will be all right
in a few days, and to cheer up; no harm done, beyond a temporary
humiliation! But we'll never dine with you again, and we shall,
one and all, brave the Episcopal anger by refusing to be your
curates when Letheby is promoted.

Yours, etc.,
Charles L. Duff, C. C.

"He's very kind, very kind, indeed," said Father Letheby, meditatively;
"but I cannot see how he is going to make it all right in a few days."

"It wouldn't surprise me much," I replied, "if that good young fellow
had already put a sop in those calves' mouths over there at Kilkeel."

"Impossible!" he cried.

"Well, time will tell."

I called down to see Alice and talk over things. It is wonderful what a
_clairvoyante_ she has become. She sees everything as in a magic mirror.

"I think the Holy Souls will come to his relief," she said, in a cool,
calm way. "He has, I think, a great de