"Then you will be a traitor to your father."
"I am not a traitor," said Florian.
"And yet you admit that some promise has been given—some promise which you dare not own. You cannot but know in your own heart that I know the truth. You have seen that man Carroll doing the mischief, and have promised him to hold your tongue about it. You have not, then, understood at all the nature or extent of the evil done. You have not, then, known that it would be your father's duty to put down this turbulent ruffian. You have promised, and having promised, Father Brosnan has frightened you. He and Pat Carroll together have cowed the very heart within you. The consequence is that you are becoming one of them, and instead of moving as a gentleman on the face of the earth, you will be such as they are. Tell the truth, and your father will at once send you to some school in England, where you will be educated as becomes my brother."
The boy now was sobbing in tears. He lacked the resolution to continue his lie, but did not dare to tell the truth.
"I will," he whispered.
"What will you do?"
"I will tell all that I know about it."
"Tell me, then, now."
"No, Edith, not now," he said.
"Will you tell papa, then?" said Edith.