. They said something about your
wearing a priest's dress: I am glad you did not wear it here, for you
would have been mobbed in Dunmuir. It's a sad pity that you're a Papist,
Brian; but we must set Mr. Drummond, our minister, to talk to you, and
he'll soon show you the error of your ways."

"I shall be very glad to hear what Mr. Drummond has to say," said Dino,
with all the courtesy which his monastic training had instilled; "but I
fear that he will have his labour thrown away. And I have one or two
things to tell you, mother, now that those gentlemen have gone. If I am
to disappoint you, let me do it at once, so that you may understand."

"Disappoint me? and how can you do that?" asked Mrs. Luttrell,
scornfully. "Perhaps you mean that you will winter in the South! If your
health requires it, do you think I would stand in the way? You have a
sickly air, but it makes you all the more like one whom I well
remember--your father's brother, who died of a decline in early youth.
No, go if you like; I will not tie you down. You can come back in the
summer, and then we will think about your settling down and marrying.
There are plenty of nice girls in the neighbourhood, though none so good
as Angela, nor perhaps so handsome as Elizabeth Murray."

"Mother, I shall never marry."

"Not marry? and why not?" cried Mrs. Luttrell, indignantly. "But you say
this to tease me only; being a Luttrell--the only Luttrell, indeed, save
Hugo, that remains--you must marry and continue the family."

"I shall never marry," said Dino, with a firmness which at last seemed
to make an impression upon Mrs. Luttrell, "because I am going to be a
monk."

Hugo could not stifle a quick catching of his breath. Did Dino mean what
he said? And what effect would this decision have upon the lives of the
many persons whose future seemed to be bound up with his? What would
Mrs. Luttrell say?

At first she said nothing. And then Dino's voice was heard again.

"Mother, my mother, do not look at me like that. I must follow my
vocation. I would have given myself years ago, but I was not allowed.
The Prior will receive me now. And nothing on earth will turn me from my
resolution. I have made up my mind."

"What!" said Mrs. Luttrell, very slowly. "You will desert me too, after
all these years!"

Dino answered by repeating in Latin the words--"He that loveth father or
mother more than Me, is not worthy of Me." But Mrs. Luttrell interrupted
him angrily.

"