Part 36 (2/2)
”I don't kno to thank you----,” Kathleen began
”There is no occasion to thank ratitude is on my side, Miss O'Connor You have made my mother happy, as no one else could have done
No payment or reward could represent what I owe you,” he answered
”But I aly
”Money cannot buy a friend, nor pay her for her friendshi+p,” he said
”And please not to forget that I a myself as much as you are
It see until noent fro with it ever since
It is only now I realise that there is so else beyond work to hting hard and keeping ion Once I was tempted to drift--that was after my trouble, over there in Golden Vale--but I was fortunate enough to find an old friend, a Father, who put things before ht”
It was the first time he had spoken to her of the dark days in Goldenvale She had often wondered to herself as to how he had accepted what must have been a terrible experience Now that he had confided in her, she wished to hear more
”A priest?” she asked him
”The Bishop I wish you knew him”
”I do,” she answered ”We have a Bishop like that”
”Then I must know him Will you takejourney froly
”Nothing to a ood roads We will start early in the , and be there for lunch, see your Bishop, and return here for dinner Desmond shall come--but what about the Mother?”
Mrs Quirk had awakened, and lay very quietly, with closed eyes, listening to their conversation She knew the Bishop well, for he came to visit her whenever he chanced to be in Grey Town His very naht a smile to her face, but she refused to place his Lordshi+p before his reverence the parish priest
”Never mind ood deal to Denis--and still more to Desmond”
They turned in surprise to look towards the spot where Desmond O'Connor lay, apparently asleep
”To Desmond?” Kathleen asked, in a puzzled voice
”Sure, you don't know the boy as I do He coether, Des in the boy's soul--I a he will be a priest”
”A priest!” cried Kathleen so clearly that Desmond rolled over lazily and faced them
”What's that?” he asked ”You three look as if you were conspiring together No secrets are allowed in this establish Mrs
Quirk's andto see the Bishop to-morrow,” said Denis ”I intend to put his Lordshi+p to a severe test He shall be placed alongside ed in that comparison”