rennan knows as well as I do there's too much money spent
upon religion in Ireland. But, tell me, did he tell you explicitly that
you should give me no more money?"

"Yes. But, Ned--"

"No, no, I am not in the least angry," he said, "I shall always get
money to carry on politics. But what a game it is! And I suppose,
Ellen, you consult him on every detail of your life?"

Her admission that Father Brennan had taken down books and put on his
spectacles delighted him.

"Taking down tomes!" he said. "Splendid! Some of these gentlemen would
discuss theology with God. I can see Father Brennan getting up: 'Sire,
my reason for entering the said sin as a venal sin, etc.'"

Very often during the evening the sewing dropped from her hands, and
she sat thinking. Sooner or later she would nave to tell Ned she had
read his manuscript. He would not mind her reading his manuscript, and
though he hated the idea that anyone should turn to a priest and ask
him for his interpretation regarding right and wrong, he had not, on
the whole, been as angry as she had expected.

At last she got up. "I am going to bed, Ned."

"Isn't it very early?"

"There is no use my stopping here. You don't want to talk to me; you'll
go on playing till midnight."

"Now, why this petulancy, Ellen? I think it shows a good deal of
forgiveness for me to kiss you after the way you have behaved."

She held a long string of grease in her fingers, and was melting it,
and when she could no longer hold it in her fingers, she threw the end
into the flame.

"I've forgiven you, Ellen.... You never tell me anything of your ideas
now; we never talk to each other, and if this last relation is broken
there will be nothing ... will there?"

"I sought Father Brennan's advice under the seal of confession, that
was all. You don't think that--"

"There are plenty of indirect ways in which he will be able to make use
of the information he has got from you."

"You have not yet heard how it happened, and perhaps when you do you
will think worse of me. I went into your room to see what books you
were reading. There was no harm in looking at a book; but you had put
the books so far into the bookcase that I could not see the name of the
author. I took up the manuscript from the table and glanced through it.
I suppose I ought not to have done that: a manuscript is not the same
as a book. And now goodnight."

She had gone to her room and did not expect him. Well, the sensua