in full dress. Rich brocade that swept the ground;
magnificent bust, like Parian marble varnished; and on her brow a diadem
of emeralds and diamonds that gave her beauty an imperial stamp.

She swept into the room as only fine women can sweep, made Griffith a
haughty courtesy, and suddenly lowered her head, and received Father
Francis's blessing: then seated herself, and quietly awaited events.

"The brazen jade!" thought Griffith. "But how divinely beautiful!" And
he became as agitated as she was calm--in appearance. For need I say her
calmness was put on? Defensive armor made for her by her pride and her
sex.

The voice of Father Francis now rose, solid, grave, and too impressive
to be interrupted.

"My daughter, and you who are her husband and my friend, I am here to do
justice between you both, with God's help; and to show you both your
faults. Catharine Gaunt, you began the mischief, by encouraging another
man to interfere between you and your husband in things secular."

"But, father, he was my director, my priest."

"My daughter, do you believe, with the Protestants, that marriage is a
mere civil contract; or do you hold, with us, that it is one of the holy
sacraments?"

"Can you ask me?" murmured Kate, reproachfully.

"Well, then, those whom God and the whole Church have in holy sacrament
united, what right hath a single priest to disunite in heart, and make
the wife false to any part whatever of that most holy vow? I hear, and
not from you, that Leonard did set you against your husband's friends,
withdrew you from society, and sent him abroad alone. In one word, he
robbed your husband of his companion and his friend. The sin was
Leonard's; but the fault was yours. You were five years older than
Leonard, and a woman of sense and experience; he but a boy by
comparison. What right had you to surrender your understanding, in a
matter of this kind, to a poor silly priest, fresh from his seminary,
and as manifestly without a grain of common sense as he was full of
piety?"

This remonstrance produced rather a striking effect on both those who
heard it. Mrs. Gaunt seemed much struck with it. She leaned back in her
chair, and put her hand to her brow with a sort of despairing gesture
that Griffith could not very well understand, it seemed to him so
disproportionate.

It softened him, however, and he faltered out, "Ay, father, that is how
it all began. Would to heaven it had stopped there."

Francis resumed