Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

My dear Sir Charles, do you think that it was very necessary to say all that you said just now in the presence of a Catholic, whom it must have offended and wounded?"

"You will find nothing ever said in this house, which can wound or offend true Catholics, St. Edmunds," interposed the still excited Lady Helen; "and this, for the simple reason that we are all such here, I trust."

"Well, but my dear aunt, you said that we were Protestants just now, I could understand, once for

be both at the self same time."

and I wish that

all, how we can

"I will explain it to you in two words, if you wish to know it, St. Edmunds. We are a Protestant nation, as protesting, for ever, I trust, against the fallacy and corruptions of the Romish creed, and we are Catholics as belonging to the Universal Church of Christ. Any one, I should think, can can understand

that."

"I shall endeavour to, for my part,' answered St. Edmunds, anxious, above all, to allay the irritation of all parties; "and I shall much rejoice to believe that Miss Basinstoke can no longer reject me as a heretic, when I

am included under the same denomination as herself."

"Ah!" replied Cécile, "I fear that it is the mere mockery of language to unite, under such forced application of the same expressions, those who are so grievously estranged."

"I am very much obliged to you for the compliment," retorted the mistress of the house.

"Indeed, Lady Helen, I had intended addressing neither compliment nor criticism to you personally, and was only answering Lord St. Edmunds's observation."

"So you will not allow our National Church to be Catholic as well as Protestant ?" added he.

"I do not presume to allow or to forbid anything," replied Cécile smiling; "but it certainly does appear to me, that Catholic and National are, as Edward would say, correlative and antagonistic terms, which cannot be sincerely confounded or easily reconciled."

"I am for reconciling off to bed," exclaimed the Baronet. "I cannot make out how it is, but I never saw two people yet talking together upon religious matters without falling out.

Ah! you need not look so very knowing, Miss Cécile it is a positive fact."

:

"If my looks conveyed anything, Sir Charles, it must have been unqualified assent to the very Catholic sentiment which you were uttering."

"Never mind my sentiments, but take care how you misbehave again at our prayers," said her uncle, playfully pulling one of her silken curls, “or you will get such a wigging as never you had yet. Now, good-night to you all: I see that the glass is going up again, nephew; so that, please God, we shall be able to show you some pheasants to-morrow."

CHAPTER VI.

THE DYING PHEASANT.

THE worthy Baronet was as good as his word, for, on the following day, our hero found the home cover more plentifully stocked than he could have expected, and such justice was done to the sport by himself, his uncle, and his cousin, that old Waddinghead, the keeper, vowed that it was the smartest shooting he had ever beheld.

Late in the afternoon, when the general thirst for carnage was somewhat abated, an unforeseen but most welcome diversion was afforded by the appearance of Constance and Cécile, who, on their return from a long walk, had, accidentally no doubt, strayed in the direc

tion of the guns. After a momentary interruption of the proceedings, the new comers so strongly expressed their desire not to interfere with any previous arrangements, that the beaters returned to their task and afforded the sportsmen an opportunity of exhibiting their skill before their fair visitants.

"Are you a good shot, St. Edmunds?" asked Constance of her cousin.

"Only pretty fair," replied he; "not so good as Edward.”

"Can you shoot the birds right and left in the way he does ?"

"Well, I have done such a thing. Look here, there are two getting up together now; one is a hen, but never mind. When they are straight over my head, I will fire."

The young Viscount deliberately watched the moment for a double coup du roi and then discharged either barrel to such good purpose, that both the birds fell almost perpendicularly to his feet.

"That is wonderful," cried Constance; "I only hope that the unfortunate creatures are quite dead."

"The cock is, at all events," answered St.

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »