"
"It would take a great deal to make me believe I was inspired,"
said Father Michael, and he watched Father James go into the post-
office to register his letter.
As he went home Father James met a long string of peasants
returning from their work. The last was Norah Flynn, and the
priest blushed deeply. It was the first time he had looked on one
of his parishioners in the light of a possible spouse; he entered
his house frightened, and when he looked round his parlour he
asked himself if the day would come when he should see Norah Flynn
sitting opposite to him in his armchair. And his face flushed
deeper when he looked towards the bedroom door, and he fell on his
knees and prayed that God's will might be made known to him.
During the night he awoke many times, and the dream that had
awakened him continued when he had left his bed, and he wandered
round and round the room in the darkness, seeking a way. At last
he reached the window and drew the curtain, and saw the dim dawn
opening out over the bog.
"Thank God," he said, "it was only a dream--only a dream."
And lying down he fell asleep, but immediately another dream as
horrible as the first appeared, and his housekeeper heard him
beating on the walls.
"Only a dream, only a dream," he said.
He lay awake, not daring to sleep lest he might dream. And it was
about seven o'clock when he heard his housekeeper telling him that
the inspector had come to tell him they must decide what direction
the new road should take.
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