"I don't know," Philip began, feeling that it was not honest to give
her the impression that he could set her husband free, "how much"--
The priest crossed to him and laid a hand quickly on his shoulder.
"Whist!" he said in Philip's ear. "There's no need of troubling her
with that. You'll do what you can, and the rest's with heaven that is
good to the poor."
Mrs. Murphy had not heard or heeded what Ashe said, and still mumbled
her thanks while the Father prepared to administer the viaticum. The
acolyte and the girl looked at Ashe as if expecting him to withdraw.
"May I remain?" Philip asked, looking at the priest with deep feeling.
The other regarded him benignly.
"Remain, my brother; and may the Holy Virgin bless the sacrament to
your soul as well as to hers."
Ashe could not have told why he had yielded to the impulse to stay. He
had for months been coming more and more to feel that the church of
Rome was his true refuge, yet he hardly now dared confess this to
himself. He had been deeply affected by the discovery that Maurice had
been to confession at St. Eulalia, and he longed himself to follow the
example of his friend.
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