t your city," and as suddenly checked himself,
as if the mere statement might lead to discussion.

Kitty, who had been darning one of John's gray yarn stockings--the
needle was still between her thumb and forefinger--leaned forward.
"That's the matter with him, Father, and he'll never be happy until he
stops it," she cried. "He don't do nothin' but tramp the streets until I
think he'd get that tired he'd go to sleep standin' up."

Felix turned toward her. "And why not, Mrs. Cleary?" he asked with a
smile. "How can I learn anything about this great metropolis unless I
see it for myself?"

"But it's all Sunday and every night! I get that worried about ye
sometimes, I'm ready to cry. And ye won't listen to a thing I say! I
been waitin' for Father Cruse to get hold of ye, and I'm goin' to say
what's in my mind." Here she looked appealingly to the priest. "Now, ye
just talk to him, Father, won't ye, please?"

The priest, laughing heartily, raised his protesting hands toward her.
"If he fails to heed you, Mrs. Cleary, he certainly won't listen to me.
What do you say for yourself, Mr. O'Day?"

Felix twisted his head until he could address his words more directly to
his hostess. "Please keep on scolding me, my dear Mrs. Cleary. I love
to hear you. But there is Father Cruse, why not sympathize with him?
He tramps to some purpose. I am only the Wandering Jew, who does it for
exercise."

Kitty held the point of the darning-needle straight out toward Felix.
"But why must you do it Sundays, Mr. O'Day? That's what I want to know."

"But Sunday is my holiday."

"Yes, and there's early mass. Ye'd think he'd come, wouldn't ye,
Father?"

One of O'Day's low, murmuring laughs, that always sounded as if he had
grown unaccustomed to letting the whole of it pass his lips, filtered
through the room.

"You see what a heathen I am, Father," he exclaimed. "But I am going to
turn over a new leaf. I shall honor myself by visiting St. Barnabas's
some day very soon, and shall sit in the front pew--or, perhaps, in
yours, Mrs. Cleary, if you will let me--now that I know who officiates,"
and he inclined his head graciously toward the priest. "I hope the
service is not always in the morning!"

"Oh, no, we have a service very often at night, sometimes at eight
o'clock."

"And how long does that last?"

"Perhaps an hour."

"And so if I should come at eight and wait until you are free, you could
give me, perhaps, another hour of yourself?