"Well, what about it? I like things a bit higher than father and Mr. Kestern myself."
"I know. You are so musical. I wish Tom didn't wear out his socks quite so fast. But Paul's getting very High Church."
"Very?" Madeline looked up meditatively.
"Yes, very. Of course your father would not wish you to know anything. Mr. Kestern told him privately. He's very worried about it."
"It's that Father Vassall," said Madeline.
"How do you know about Father Vassall?"
"Paul told me. He likes him very much."
"Well, I'm sure it would be too dreadful for the Kesterns if Paul became a Roman Catholic."
"It won't matter much if he's a poet."
"Madeline! It would. I'm sure Roman Catholicism is very dreadful—there's the confessional. Though I must say it's worse for a woman than a man. And the Pope too. But that's the point. Suppose Paul became a priest. They'll get him if they can. Jesuits always try for clever young men."