PART III.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5, 1 February 1900, Page 24

PART 111.

The next morning Frank ' took his courage in both his hands,' as the French describe it, and strolled into his mother's special sanctum where she sat writing letters. ' Are you very busy, mother /' he asked. • Well, I was, but if you have anything to say to rue I can finish these later.' 'He ia going 1 to confide in me,' she said to herself, with an unaccustomed feeling of pleasure stirring at her heart. Frank walked over to the lire-place and leaned his arm on the carved oak mantel-piece, his eyes fixed on the leaping flames. 'You won't like what I am going to say,' he began, abruptly, ' I warn you of that, but you ought to know it, so it is no use beating about the bush. lam engaged to the dearest girl in the world, mother, and — I am going to be received into the Catholic Chnrch,' and then, with the restless feeling of one who has ' burned his boots.' Frank stood upright and faced his petrified parent. For a moment Mrs. Lomer was rendered speechless with surprise and horror. During a restless night she had imagined many evils which might have befallen her son, but she had not dreamt of auything quite so appaliug as this. **7~ ' You, a Catholic ?' she exclaimed at last. ' You must have taken leave of your senses !' 'On the contrary ; only just gained possession of them, mother mine,' he said, crossing the room and laying a caressing hand upon her shoulder. Now that the dreaded commencement had been made, his spirits had recovered their usual easy-going buoyancy, a quality inherited from his father. 'Let us thrash it all out out,' he added, taking a «eat beside her ' I am six and twenty, you know, mother, quite old enough to know my own mind, and to be able to distinguish right Irom wiong, and I am convinced that the Catholic religion is the only true one. and I am going to join it. I should be acting the pjrt of a hypocrite it' I stayed where I am now.' A whole volume of indignation was trembling on the extreme tip of Mrs. Lomer's tongue, but by a violent eftort she contrived to defer its publication a little longer. I ' It will make no difference where you and the governor are concerned,' continued Frank soothingly, 'or at least if it docs it will be a difference on the right side, for I shall probably give you a jolly sight less trouble than Ido now. I ought to, at any rate. 1 1 Some woman has got hold of you,' exclaimed his mother furiously. ' What did you say about being engaged '' In her dismay, at what she mentally teraud In- • pervei'-inn,' she had been momentarily oblivious of the lesser evil. A Under light came into Frank's blue eyes. ' She is a Catholic, too,' he said softly. 1 There, I knew it ! It is her wiles, then, which have led you into this — this tomfoolery !' ' Gently, mother,' interrupted Frank with a quiet dignity which was entirely new to him, and which caused his listener considerable astonishment. 'I camiot allow you to speak in that manner either of the religion I am going to join, or of the lady who has consented to be my wife. It is probably her prayers which have had a good deal to do with my conversion, for she refused to have anything to aay to me while I was still a Protestant.' 'There, I knew it!' repeated Mrs. Lomer, triumphantly. ' What was that but a wile, I should like to know ? She knew well enough that you would throw any principles overboard in order to get what you wanted. Men are all like that ' ' She did not know it,' replied Frank, calmly. His temper was rising rapidly, but he realised that his best policy was to keep as cool as possible under the present highly irritating circumstances.

' She refused me finally three months ago on account of my religion, and I did not .see her again until I had read and studied the question, and consulted a Jesuit priest, and became thoroughly convinced that the Catholic Church was the only true one. It was she put the idea of inquiring into my head, naturally, but that was all she had to do with it, besides, as I said before, praying for me.' ' What is her name V asked his mother in a calmer tone. It was the calmness of despair. Frank hesitated, and a gleam of mischief came into his eyes. ' May I come in V said a voice at the door. ' Oh, I beg your pardon ; I thought yuu weie tuonc , I wanted to know ' ' Don't go. Ruth,' interposed Mrs. Lomer, hastily, as the newcomer was preparing lo make a Lunied exit. There was no use, she thought, in prolonging a painful discussion, and her son was now provided with a tangible safeguard against the charms of her lady-help. In fact, nothing waa of any consequence. This feeling of helpless passiveness, however, was suddenly changed to one of active horror and dismay, for as Ruth — her face flushed and her eyes downcast, advanced timidly into the room, Frank went boldly up to her and took her reluctant hand. 1 Her name," be said, ' is Ruth Chester !' 'Frank 1 ' screamed Mrs 1 . Lomer. Are you mad? My ladyheln!/'