His voice had a slight tremor. She looked up. There was a hush, a momentary thrill. Then he smiled again and patted her hand once more.
"You must not let the world weaken you, my child, or cause you to doubt the validity of your marriage. Whether it is a good marriage, in effect as well as intention (one of you being still unbaptized), it is for the Church, not the world, to decide."
Again Roma kissed the ring of the Pope, and again he patted the hand that lay under his.
"Nevertheless, there is something I wish you to do, my daughter," he said, in the same low tones. "I wish you to tell your husband."
"Holy Father," said Roma, "I have already told him. I had done so before I spoke to Father Pifferi, but only under the disguise of another woman's story."
"And what did your husband say?"
"He said what your Holiness says. He was very charitable and noble; so I took heart and told him everything."
"And what did he say then?"
A cloud crossed her face. "Holy Father, he has not yet said anything."
"Not anything?"