And how
do you do, your reverence." The woman dropped a curtsey to Father
Stafford. "It's seldom we see you up here."
"They have gone towards the Peak," said Father Tom, for he saw his
uncle would take advantage of the occasion to gossip. "We shall
catch them up there."
"I am afraid I am not equal to it, Tom. I'd like to do this for
you, but I am afraid I am not equal to another half-mile up-hill."
Father Maguire strove to hypnotize his parish priest.
"Uncle John, you are called upon to make this effort. I cannot
speak to these people as I should like to."
"If you spoke to them as you would like to, you would only make
matters worse," said Father John.
"Very likely, I'm not in a humour to contest these things with
you. But I beseech you to come with me. Come," he said, "take my
arm."
They went a few hundred yards up the road, then there was another
stoppage, and Father Maguire had again to exercise his power of
will, and he was so successful that the last half-mile of the road
was accomplished almost without a stop.
At Michael Dunne's, the priests learned that the wedding party had
been there, and Father Stafford called for a lemonade.
"Don't fail me now, Uncle John. They are within a few hundred
yards of us. I couldn't meet them without you. Think of it. If
they were to tell me that I had refused to marry them for two
pounds, my authority would be gone for ever. I should have to
leave the parish."
"My dear Tom, I would do it if I could, but I am completely
exhausted.
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