"Time enough to think of that," said Charlotte; "it'll take four years to finish."
"Four years!" cried White; "we shall be all real Catholics by then; England will be converted."
"It will be done just in time for the Bishop," said Charlotte.
"Oh, it's not good enough for him!" said Miss Bolton; "but it may do in church for the Asperges. How different all things will be!" continued she; "I don't quite like, though, the idea of a cardinal in Oxford. Must we be so very Roman? I don't see why we might not be quite Catholic without the Pope."
"Oh, you need not be afraid," said White sagely; "things don't go so apace. Cardinals are not so cheap."
"Cardinals have so much state and stiffness," said Miss Bolton: "I hear they never walk without two servants behind them; and they always leave the room directly dancing begins."
"Well, I think Oxford must be just cut out for cardinals," said Miss Charlotte; "can anything be duller than the President's parties? I can fancy Dr. Bone a cardinal, as he walks round the parks."
"Oh, it's the genius of the Catholic Church," said White; "you will understand it better in time. No one is his own master; even the Pope cannot do as he will; he dines by himself, and speaks by precedent."
"Of course he does," said Charlotte, "for he is infallible."
"Nay, if he makes mistakes in the functions," continued White, "he is obliged to write them down and confess them, lest they should be drawn into precedents."