"Where is papa?" exclaimed Constance eagerly.
"He has started for Rawcliffe," replied the priest.
"Gone!—without a word to me! Impossible!" she cried.
"'Tis nevertheless true," replied Father Jerome, gravely. "He wished to avoid any discussion. He has gone to fetch certain documents, without which he declines to appear before the prince."
"His highness will regard it as an act of disobedience, and will be justly offended," cried Constance.
"I do not think so, when I have explained matters to him," rejoined the priest.
"I am not to be duped," said Constance, bitterly. "Atherton will learn nothing more."
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE PRINCE ATTENDS SERVICE AT THE COLLEGIATE CHURCH.
This being the festival of St. Andrew, as already intimated, the Scottish nobles and chiefs desired that a special morning service should be performed for them at the collegiate church, and arrangements were accordingly made for compliance with their request.
Prayers were to be read by the Rev. William Shrigley, one of the chaplains, and an avowed Nonjuror, and the sermon was to be preached by the Rev. Mr. Coppock, chaplain to the Manchester Regiment, who was chosen for the occasion by the prince.