quiet time enough ever since Lent, throughout the whole
county; and it seemed as if the heat of the assault had cooled for want
of success. Plainly a great deal had been staked upon the attack on
Padley, which, for its remoteness from towns, was known to be a
meeting-place where priests could always find harbourage. And, indeed,
it was time that the Catholics should have a little breathing space.
Things had been very bad with them--the arrest of Mr. Simpson, and,
still more, his weakness (though he had not as yet actually fulfilled
his promise of going to church, and was still detained in gaol); the
growing lukewarmness of families that seldom saw a priest; the blows
struck at the FitzHerbert family; and, above all, the defection of Mr.
Thomas--all these things had brought the hearts of the faithful very
low. Mr. John himself had had an untroubled time since his return a
little before Easter; but he had taken the precaution not to remain too
long at Padley at one time; he had visited his other estates at
Swynnerton and elsewhere, and had even been back again at Langley. But
there had been no hint of any pursuit. Padley had remained untouched;
the men went about their farm business; the housekeeper peered from her
windows, without a glimpse of armed men such as had terrified the
household on Candlemas day.

It was only last night, indeed, that the master had returned, in time to
meet the two priests who had asked for shelter for a day or two. They
had stayed here before continually, as well as at Booth's Edge, during
their travels, both in the master's absence and when he was at home.
There were a couple of rooms kept vacant always for "men of God"; and
all priests who came were instructed, of course (in case of necessity),
as to the hiding-holes that Mr. Owen had contrived a few years before.
Never, however, had there been any use made of them.

* * * * *

It was a hot July afternoon when the two priests were met to-day by Mr.
John outside the arched gate that ran between the hall and the buttery.
They had already dined at a farm a few miles down the valley, but they
were taken round the house at once to the walled garden, where drink and
food were set out. Here their dusty boots were pulled off; they laid
aside their hats, and were presently at their ease again.

They were plain men, these two; though Mr. Garlick had been educated at
Oxford, and, before his going to Rheims, had been s