CHAPTER VI.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 23, 8 June 1899, Page 27

CHAPTER VI.

Sir William Durrant had reason to be taken aback when the afternoon after the meeting we have just described a hired rly stopped at his door, and out of it stepped Lord Harlath, the last person in the world whom he exppcted to see, though it certainly flattered him to think his old friend had come all th» way to Shropb hire to condole with him over the iniquity of hi« eldest son ; such a ppearing, undoubtedly, the object of Lord Harlath's visit, and they

spent an hour abusing ' papists' in general, and James Dnrrant in particular, and going on to discußs the criminal independence of the present-day sons and daughters.

• The only consolation in your case,' said the nobleman in commenting- upon a specially voluble, paternal denunciation of Sir William's, ' is that it might be worse.'

' Worse v cried the baronet. ' Why, it's as bad as it can possibly be. To think that my eldest son has turned idolator I I only rejoice my property is not entailed upon him. How could ifc be worse. T'd like to know V

1 Well, he might, eh, turn Jesuit !' put in Lord Harlath

' What '' roared Sir William, now horrified almost into a fit. ' What did you say / Did — did he suggest he meant to do such, a thing I

■ Well, no, not exactly, but he might, I say, if you don't put it out of his power.'

' Hasn't he defied me to the fullest extent already ? How could I put anything out of his power /'

Lord Harlath smiled synically

' How .' my dear William ! Why, of course, by entailing your property upon him and thus enabling me to give him my daughter in marriage.'

The baronet's breath was taken away. If he had known that the heiress to the barony of Harlath had been proposed for by his son he had certainly not known the lady's reason for declining the suit, and it was clear that the wily old lord and he must have come to a satisfactory understanding, from the announcement which appeared a fortnight later in the papers of the marriage of James, eldest son of Sir William Durrant, Bart . and the Honourable Mechtilde, only surviving child of Lord Harlath.— A. MacDebmott, in the Catholic Fireside.