"What a hurry you are in." "Your own conduct has made it necessary." "Why, what have I done now?" "No harm. It was a good and humane action to prevent bloodshed, but the world is not always worthy of good actions. People are beginning to make free with your name for your interfering in the duel." Kate fired up. "Why can't people mind their own business?" "I do not exactly know," said the priest, coolly, "nor is it worth inquiring. We must take human nature as it is, and do for the best. You must marry him, and stop their tongues." Kate pretended to reflect. "I believe you are right," said she, at last; "and indeed I must do as you would have me; for, to tell the truth, in an unguarded moment, I pitied him so that I half promised I _would_." "Indeed!" said Father Francis. "This is the first I have heard of it." Kate replied that was no wonder, for it was only last night she had so committed herself. "Last night!" said Father Francis; "how can that be? He was never out of my sight till we went to bed." "O, there I beg to differ," said the lady. "While you were all tippling in the dining-room, he was better employed,--making love by moonlight. And O what a terrible thing opportunity is, and the moon another! There! what with the moonlight, and my pitying him so, and all he has suffered for me, and my being rich now, and having something to give him, we two are engaged. See else: this was his mother's ring, and he has mine." "Mr. Neville?" "Mr. Neville? No. My old servant, to be sure. What, do you think I would go and marry for wealth, when I have enough and to spare of my own? O, what an opinion you must have of me!" Father Francis was staggered by this adroit thrust. However, after a considerable silence he recovered himself, and inquired gravely why she had given him no hint of all this the other night, when he had diverted her from a convent, and advised her to marry Neville. "That you never did, I'll be sworn," said Kate. Father Francis reflected. "Not in so many words, perhaps; but I said enough to show you." "O!" said Kate, "such a matter was too serious for hints and innuendoes; if you wanted me to jilt my old servant and wed an acquaintance of yesterday, why not say so plainly? I dare say I should have obeyed you, and been unhappy for life; but now my honor is solemnly engaged; my faith is plighted; and were even you to urge me to break faith, and behave dishonorably, I should resist. I would liever take poison, and die." Father Francis looked at her steadily, and she colored to the brow. "You are a very apt young lady," said he; "you have outwitted your director. That may be my fault as much as yours; so I advise you to provide yourself with another director, whom you will be unable, or unwilling, to outwit."