"And yet these English ministers," the priest reflected, "are not
stupid men; they are merely men blinded by theory and prejudice,
as all men are who live in the world. Their folly will be apparent
to the next generation, and so on and so on for ever and ever,
world without end."
"And the worst of it is," the priest said, "while the people are
earning their living on these roads their fields will be lying
idle, and there will be no crops next year."
Father MacTurnan began to think of the cardinals and the
transaction of business in the Vatican; cardinals and ministers
alike are the dupes of convention. Only those who are estranged
from habits and customs can think straightforward.
"If, instead of insisting on these absurd roads, the Government
would give me the money, I should be able to feed the people at a
cost of about a penny a day, and they would be able to sow their
potatoes. And if only the cardinals would consider the rescission
of the decree on its merits Ireland would be saved from
Protestantism."
Some cardinal was preparing an answer--an answer might be even in
the post. Rome might not think his letter worthy of an answer.
A few days afterwards the inspector called to show him a letter he
had just received from the Board of Works, and Father James had to
write many letters and had to go to Dublin, and in the excitement
of these philanthropic activities the emigration question was
forgotten. He was talking to the inspector about the possibility
of obtaining a harbour when the postman handed him a letter.
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