"If any one should knock, Thérèse, just step to the kitchen porch door and say that I am engaged for an hour, at least."
"Oui, oui, Père Honoré."
He closed the door.
"There, now you can have your chat 'all to yourself' as you requested," he said smiling. He sat down in the other chair he had drawn to the fire.
"I've been over to Maggie's this afternoon—"
She hesitated; it was not easy to find an opening for her long pent trouble.
Father Honoré spread his hands to the blaze.
"She has a fine boy. I'm glad McCann is back again, and I hope anchored here for life. He's trying to buy his home he tells me."
"So Maggie said—Father Honoré;" she clasped and unclasped her hands nervously; "I think it's that that has made me come to you to-day."
"That?—I think I don't quite understand, Aileen."