'It was indeed. She is a woman of great taste in music and in many other things. She must have regretted your garden.'
'Why do you think she regretted my garden?' Father Oliver asked.
'Because she always regretted that mine wasn't larger. She helped me with my garden;' and feeling that they had at last got into a conversation that was full of interest for them both, Father Oliver said:
'Shall we go into the house? We shall be able to talk more agreeably by the fireside.'
'I should like to get back to that turf fire; for it is the last that I shall probably see. Let us get back to it.'
'I'm quite agreeable to return to the fire. Catherine will bring in the tea presently.'
And as soon as they were back in the parlour, Father Oliver said:
'Father O'Grady, that is your chair. It was very good of you to take the trouble to drive over.'
'I wished to make my correspondent's acquaintance,' Father O'Grady murmured; 'and there is much that it is difficult to put down on paper without creating a wrong impression, whereas in talk one is present to rectify any mistakes one may drop into. I am thinking now of the last subject dealt with in our correspondence, that I should have informed myself regarding Mr. Poole's writing before I consented to allow Nora Glynn to accept the post of secretary.'
'You must forgive me, Father O'Grady,' Father Oliver cried.