Part 3 (1/2)
”I said. 'True, your riverence.'”
”I'm afraid that is hardly the truth, Annorah. If anything has improved your language, it is your reading.”
”To be shure. But is it not because I am with those who spake English well, that I'm learning to read? So it was the truth, after all.”
”Not the whole truth, Annorah.”
Just then Annorah turned, and saw the shadow of a man on the sloping rock at the left hand. Her first impulse was to cry out, but the fear of alarming Annie, and her own natural courage, prevented her; and she soon thought she could detect in the shadowy outline a resemblance to Father M'Clane. ”Och, then, the murder's out,” she thought; ”the mane creature has been listening, and faith now he shall have a pill that will settle his stomach intirely.--What were you saying, Miss Annie?”
she asked aloud, turning towards Annie's carriage.
”I said that you did not tell him the whole truth.”
”Small matter for that. It was all he asked for, and it's better plazed he is than if it were more. He's a lying ould thing himself, any way!”
”Why, Annorah?”
”Ye may well open yer eyes. Did he not tell me last Sunday that you, miss, with your sweet voice and comforting ways, were jist a temptation placed in me way, by the ould inimy himself?”
”I, Annorah? What does he know of me?”
”Nothing at all, savin' that ye are a saint, and he an ould--”
”Stop, stop, Annorah. We must not speak evil of any one. I hope that you were civil in your reply.”
”Civil! indade I was. I said, 'Ye should teach your flock better than to tempt honest people.' 'It's gettin' impudent ye are,' says he; 'ye'll be turnin' heretic next. You must be seen to and taken care of,' says he. 'Bad luck to ye!' says I; 'when ye sees me two eyes light me to confession again, ye may take care o' me and welcome.'”
”And shall you not go again?”
”Never again.” Annorah saw the shadow raise its hand threateningly.
”No, indade. Where's the use o' telling all ye know to an ould creature like him? Doesn't the blessed Book say that no man can come to the Father but only through Jesus Christ? An' shure, the great Father in heaven is angered to see me kneel down before that biggest o' scamps, when I should be praying to himself. I'll do it no more.”
”I am glad to hear you say so, Annorah; I do so hope,” said Annie, as the affectionate tears stole down her thin cheek, ”that you are beginning to learn in the school of Christ. But, my poor girl, you will meet much opposition. I am afraid that your family will join with the priest in opposing you.”
”Let them. I'll fight them all with pleasure--more especially the praste.”
”But fighting is not the way to make them think well of the religion of Jesus. He was mild and gentle, patient under abuse and persecution; and he must be your pattern, if you desire to please G.o.d. You must pray to him, Annorah, for a new heart, so that none of these angry feelings will trouble you.”
”Is it the new heart, miss, that makes you so sweet and patient?”
”If I have any goodness, Annorah, it is because G.o.d has changed my old heart, and made it better. It is his grace that enables me to suffer without complaining; and it is his love, which I feel in my heart, that makes me calm and happy in my greatest pain.”
”Then I am sure,” said the girl earnestly, forgetting for a moment that she was overheard. ”I will never rest a day at all, till I get that same done for me. But mayhap he will not be so willing to look upon me.”
”In his holy Book we read that he is no respecter of persons, and that whosoever cometh unto him he will in no wise cast out.”
”Why, then, I can coom as soon as the grandest. _How_ shall I coom?”
”I will tell you how I came to him. I studied his holy Word to learn his will, and I prayed often that he would give me his Spirit to teach me the way to him.”