ighty God," she answered, without disrespect, for she had a profound
trust in Denis Quirk.

"God bless you, Honey! Then why should I be doubting him? I will go and
speak to the boy. Sure, he never yet lied to me. If he has sinned, the
Lord forgive him. And what am I to judge him?"

The motor was ordered at once, and in a short space of time it carried
Mrs. Quirk and Kathleen to "The Mercury" office. Tim O'Neill was in the
outer office, bright-faced and very busy, as was his custom. He welcomed
the ladies with a smile.

"Is Denis in?" asked Mrs. Quirk.

"Mr. Quirk? Yes, he is in. Were you wanting to see him?" Tim replied.

"Who else?" said Mrs. Quirk.

"I will stay here and talk to Tim," suggested Kathleen. "That is, if Tim
can spare the time."

Tim was a gallant youth, and he answered blushingly that it was an
honour and pleasure to speak to Miss O'Connor. Meanwhile Mrs. Quirk
entered her son's room.

Denis Quirk was reckoning up the consequences of the last night's
proceedings, and considering the best method of carrying on the
campaign. As his mother entered he looked up with a frown, that changed
into a smile when he saw who his visitor was.

He had constantly urged her to inspect the office, but she had always
refused to come.

"Sure, you are busy; and what would you be doing with an old body like
me?" she was accustomed to say.

"So you have come to visit me at last?" he cried.

"I have come to talk to you, because I could not wait until you had come
home," she answered. "What is this in the paper?"

He had hoped that she might not hear of his trouble, knowing how seldom
she interested herself in the contents of a paper.

"Who has been telling you?" he asked.

"Who but himself at first, and when he would not satisfy me I ordered
Kathleen to read it to me," she answered. "Oh, Denis, the shame of it!
That anyone should dare say that you were a divorced man!"

"It's the truth, mother," he answered through his teeth.

"You, the son I was always proud of, to be going into a place like that!
It is a shame that there should be such iniquitous places in a Christian
land!" she cried.

Denis put his hand very gently on her shoulder in a caressing manner
that was out of keeping with his accustomed attitude.

"See here, mother," he answered, "a man can only be judged in the light
of the Eternal Truth. In that light I am innocent."

"Then why not prove them liars that have spoken these things against
y