one mind.

"Now," said John, rising, as if a load were taken off his breast--"now,
do what he will Lord Luxmore cannot do me any harm."

"Husband, don't let us speak of Lord Luxmore."

Again that sigh--quite ghostly in the darkness. They heard it likewise
this time.

"Who's there?"

"Only I, Mr. Halifax--don't be angry with me."

It was the softest, mildest voice--the voice of one long used to
oppression; and the young man whom Ursula had supposed to be a Catholic
appeared from behind the loom.

"I do not know you, sir. How came you to enter my mill?"

"I followed Mrs. Halifax. I have often watched her and your children.
But you don't remember me."

Yes; when he came underneath the light of the one tallow candle, we all
recognized the face--more wan than ever--with a sadder and more
hopeless look in the large grey eyes.

"I am surprised to see you here, Lord Ravenel."

"Hush! I hate the very sound of the name. I would have renounced it
long ago. I would have hid myself away from him and from the world, if
he would have let me."

"He--do you mean your father?"

The boy--no, he was a young man now, but scarcely looked more than a
boy--assented silently, as if afraid to utter the name.

"Would not your coming here displease him?" said John, always tenacious
of trenching a hair's breadth upon any lawful authority.

"It matters not--he is away. He has left me these six months alone at
Luxmore."

"Have you offended him?" asked Ursula, who had cast kindly looks on the
thin face, which perhaps reminded her of another--now for ever banished
from our sight, and his also.

"He hates me because I am a Catholic, and wish to become a monk."

The youth crossed himself, then started and looked round, in terror of
observers. "You will not betray me? You are a good man, Mr. Halifax,
and you spoke warmly for us. Tell me--I will keep your secret--are you
a Catholic too?"

"No, indeed."

"Ah! I hoped you were. But you are sure you will not betray me?"

Mr. Halifax smiled at such a possibility. Yet, in truth, there was
some reason for the young man's fears; since, even in those days,
Catholics were hunted down both by law and by public opinion, as
virulently as Protestant nonconformists. All who kept out of the pale
of the national church were denounced as schismatics, deists,
atheists--it was all one.

"But why do you wish to leave the world?"

"I am sick of it. There never was but one in it I ca