“Yours is not a nature to forget or lightly ignore a pledge once given. And please understand, my dear child, it is for your spiritual future that I remind you of your solemn words to our dear friend–to him who is no longer here to recall them to you, and whose beneficent influence is forever gone.”
Into Elinor’s face had come a look of pain, for these words to a conscience such as hers were as so many stabs. Pats frowned. Still clasping the fingers that had slid among his own, and with a slight upward movement of the chin, he took one step forward toward the prelate. But before he could speak the Princess acted quickly, 227to avert a scene. In a vivacious, off-hand manner, yet with a certain easy authority, she said, smiling pleasantly in turn upon her three listeners:
“You speak of a convent? Ah, your Grace forgets something! Religion is a mighty thing. We all know that. But there is one thing mightier–and here are two of its victims. ’T is the thing that makes the world go round. You know what it is. Oh, yes, you know! And it has made archbishops go round, too; even Popes–and many times! And when once it gets you–well! il s’en moque de la réligion et de touts les Saints–for it has a heaven of its own. Moreover, we must not forget, your Grace and I, that this unconventional gentleman–”
Here she turned a mirthful glance upon Pats and his rags, and he smiled as his eyes met hers:
“That our unconventional gentleman has already tried to give his life for this girl. Moreover, he will do it again, whenever necessary, and she is not likely to forget it.”
Indeed not, if truth were in the look that came to Elinor’s eyes.
“Princess,” said the Archbishop, “this is not 228a matter for argument. It is a question to be decided by the lady’s own conscience.”
“But I have made no promise,” said Elinor. “I told Father Burke it was my intention to enter a convent. It was merely the expression of a wish–not in the nature of a binding promise.”
“But to me,” said Pats, smiling pleasantly upon the Archbishop, “she did make a binding promise–a very definite promise of a matrimonial nature. If she enters a convent–I go too.”
Thereupon the Princess laughed,–a gentle, merry laugh, spontaneous and involuntary. “A nunnery with a bridal chamber! Fi, l’horreur! Imagine the effect on the other sisters!”