priest such control in education as becomes his
position, which is not only to educate the youth, but to instruct the
man, in all the duties enjoined by religion."
The squire now gave a triumphant look at the baronet, and a very kind
and gracious one at Reilly.
"Pray, sir," continued the baronet, in his cold, supercilious manner,
"from the peculiarity of your views, I feel anxious, if you will pardon
me, to ask where you yourself have received your very accomplished
education."
"Whether my education, sir, has been an accomplished one or otherwise,"
replied Reilly, "is a point, I apprehend, beyond the reach of any
opportunity you ever had to know. I received my education, sir, such as
it is, and if it be not better the fault is my own, in a Jesuit seminary
on the Continent."
It was now the baronet's time to triumph; and indeed the bitter glancing
look he gave at the squire, although it was intended for Reilly,
resembled that which one of the more cunning and ferocious beasts of
prey makes previous to its death-spring upon its victim. The old man's
countenance instantly fell. He looked with surprise, not unmingled with
sorrow and distrust, at Reilly, a circumstance which did not escape his
daughter, who could not, for the life of her, avoid fixing her eyes,
lovelier even in the disdain they expressed, with an indignant look at
the baronet.
The latter, however, felt resolved to bring his rival still further
within the toils he was preparing for him, an object which Reilly's
candor very much facilitated.
"Mr. Reilly," said the squire, "I was not prepared to
hear--a--a--hem--God bless me, it is very odd, very deplorable, very
much to be regretted indeed!"
"What is, sir?" asked Reilly.
"Why, that you should be a Jesuit. I must confess I was not--ahem!--God
bless me. I can't doubt your own word, certainly."
"Not on this subject," observed the baronet coolly.
"On no subject, sir," replied Reilly, looking him sternly, and with
an indignation that was kept within bounds only by his respect for the
other parties, and the roof that covered him; "On no subject, Sir Robert
Whitecraft, is my word to be doubted."
"I beg your pardon, sir," replied the other, "I did not say so."
"I will neither have it said, sir, nor insinuated," rejoined Reilly. "I
received my education on the Continent because the laws of this country
prevented me from receiving it here. I was placed in a Jesuit seminary,
not by my own choi
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