ise?"

Mrs. a Cleeve cast a pitiful glance at Father Halloran's back. The priest
neither answered nor turned.

"Besides, they stole my money. All that father sent passed through the
prefect's hands and again through the _concierge's_; yes, and was handled
by half a dozen other rascals, perhaps, before ever it reached me.
They didn't even trouble themselves to hide the cheat. One week I might
be lucky and pick up a whole louis; the next I'd be handed five francs and
an odd sou or two, with a grin."

"And all the while your father was sending out your allowance as usual--
twenty pounds to reach you on the first of every month--and Dickinson's
agents in Paris sending back assurances that it would be transmitted and
reach you as surely as if France and England were at peace!"

Father Halloran caught the note of anxious justification in Mrs. a
Cleeve's voice, and knew that it was meant for him. He turned now with a
half audible "Pish!" but controlled his features--superfluously, since he
stood now with his back to the waning light.

"Have you seen him?" he asked abruptly.

"Seen whom?"

"Your father."

"I came around by the east door, meaning to surprise mother. I only
arrived here two minutes before you knocked."

"For God's sake answer me 'yes' or 'no,' like a man!" thundered Father
Halloran, suddenly giving vent to his anger: as suddenly checking it with
a tight curb, he addressed Mrs. a Cleeve. "Your pardon!" said he.

The woman almost whimpered. She could not use upon her confessor the card
of weak nerves she would have played at once and unhesitatingly upon her
husband. "I think you are horribly unjust," she said. "God knows how I
have looked forward to this moment: and you are spoiling all! One would
say you are not glad to see our boy back!"

The priest ignored the querulous words. "You must see your father at
once," he said gravely. "At once," he repeated, noting how Walter's eyes
sought his mother's.

"Of course, if you think it wise--" she began.

"I cannot say if it be wise--in your meaning. It is his duty."

"We can go with him--"

"No."

"But we might help to explain?"

Father Halloran looked at her with pity. "I think we have done that too
often," he answered; and to himself he added: "She is afraid of him. Upon
my soul, I am half afraid of him myself."

"You think his father will understand?" she asked, clutching at comfort.

"It depends upon what you mean by 'understand