Lady Mary rose quietly from her chair, and thrust something into a drawer of her desk. Then she turned to David.
“Is that your sole reason?” she asked.
David coloured.
“For practical purposes,” he replied.
Lady Mary looked straight at him.
“In my grandson’s name,” she said, a little smile trembling on her lips, “I accept your generous offer in the spirit in which you make it.”
Father Maloney stared.
“Glory be to God!” he ejaculated inwardly, “she doesn’t mean to tell him. She’s a wonderful woman, is Lady Mary. A wonderful woman!”
And then suddenly a bell rang out, pulled by the stalwart arm of the under gardener.
Father Maloney started.