"In the white cottage yonder, sir."
"And your husband belongs to the coast-guard?"
"He does, sir."
"And is he a Catholic also?"
"Glory be to God, he is!" said the old woman.
"But how do you manage? Can you ever go to mass?"
"Not often, sir."
"Is there any priest near here?"
"None that I know of nearer than Arundel Castle. The Duke of Norfolk has a private chaplain, they say." This was all that could be drawn from the parties on that subject. They evidently feared to compromise some one by speaking more plainly.
After this day Mrs. Godfrey seemed attracted to the poor blind old woman. She had always been benevolent, though she seldom took a strong personal interest in the object of her bounty, and beyond relieving physical want had little idea of doing good. Now a new idea had taken possession of her, she appeared to feel reverence for the cheerful sufferer, and treated her with a proportionate respect and sympathy.