I don't doubt for a
moment that you intended to get married, but you have, I fear,
been guilty of a great sin, and you've set a bad example."
"We were on our way to your reverence now," said Mary. "I mean to
his reverence."
"Well," said Father Tom, "you are certainly taking your time over
it, lying here half asleep under the trees."
"We hadn't the money," said Mary, "it wasn't our fault."
"Didn't I say I'd marry you for nothing?"
"But sure, your reverence, that's only a way of speaking."
"There's no use lingering here," said Father Tom. "Ned, you took
the pledge the day before yesterday, and yesterday you were
tipsy."
"I may have had a drop of drink in me, your reverence. Pat Connex
passed me the mug of porter and I forgot myself."
"And once," said the priest, "you tasted the porter you thought
you could go on taking it."
Ned did not answer, and the priests whispered together.
"We are half way now," said Father Tom, "we can get there before
twelve o'clock."
"I don't think I'm equal to it," said Father John. "I really don't
think--"
The sounds of wheels were heard, and a peasant driving a donkey
cart came up the road.
"You see it is all up-hill," said Father John. "See how the road
ascends. I never could manage it."
"The road is pretty flat at the top of the hill once you get to
the top of the hill, and the cart will take you to the top."
It seemed undignified to get into the donkey cart, but his
nephew's conscience was at stake, and the Vicar-General got in,
and Father Tom said to the unmarried couple:--
"Now walk on in front of us, and step out as quickly as you can.
Pages:
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74