"We went down and got them and a bottle of Scotch, too, and I remember perfectly that we polished off half a small ham, a whole Edam cheese, a loaf of bread and nearly a bottle of the Scotch—the bottle wasn't quite full, to begin with, you see.
"After we'd finished we had a smoke, and then I stared at him straight.
"'What's the meaning of it all, Father?' I asked.
"'I can't tell you, my son,' said he (he never called me so before or since that night) 'but you may be sure of one thing—God reigns. And now, what are you thinking to do?'
"'Burn down this house,' said I, 'and send for my wife to come back.'
"'By all means send for your wife,' says he quickly, 'but if you're bound to destroy this house—which strikes me as a very good sort of house—why not give it me?'
"'To you?' I cried. 'You don't mean that you'd use it?'
"'I could put a parochial school for girls there next week,' he said cheerfully. 'We need one at this end badly, but I hadn't the money."
"'And you'd put innocent girls in this place?'
"'Give me a chance, and then come hear Sister Mary Eustacia sing with 'em, next Sunday,' he said.