’Very sincerely yours,

‘OLIVER GOGARTY.’

From Miss Nora Glynn to Father Oliver Gogarty.

’ANTWERP,

’September 3, 19—.

’DEAR FATHER GOGARTY,

’You are a very human person after all, and it was very kind of you to think about my baby and kind of you to write to me about her.  My baby is a little girl, and she has reddish hair like mine, and if ever you see her I think you will see me in her.  The address of the woman who is looking after her is Mrs. Cust, 25, Henry Street, Guildford.  Do go to see her and write me a long letter, telling me what you think of her.  I am sure a trip to London will do you a great deal of good.  Pack up your portmanteau, Father Gogarty, and go to London at once.  Promise me that you will, and write to me about your impressions of London and Father O’Grady, and when you are tired of London come abroad.  We are going on to Munich, that is all I know, but I will write again.

’Very sincerely yours,

‘NORA GLYNN.’

Father Oliver sat wondering, and then, waking up suddenly, he went about his business, asking himself if she really meant all she said, for why should she wish him to go abroad, for his health or in the hope of meeting him—­where?  In Munich!

’A riddle, a riddle, which’—­he reflected a moment—­’which my experience of life is not sufficient to solve.’

On his way to Derrinrush he was met by a man hurrying towards him.  ’Sure it is I that am in luck this day, meeting your reverence on the road, for we shall be spared half a mile if you have the sacred elements about you.’  So much the peasant blurted out between the gasps, and when his breath came easier the priest learnt that Catherine, the man’s wife, was dying.  ’Me brother’s run for the doctor, but I, being the speedier, came for yourself, and if your reverence has the sacred elements about you, we’ll go along together by a short cut over the hill.’  ’I’m afraid I have not got the oil and there’s nothing for it but to go back to the house.’  ’Then I’m afeard that Catherine will be too late to get the Sacrament.  But she is a good woman, sorra better, and maybe don’t need the oil,’ which indeed proved to be a fact, for when they reached the cabin they found the doctor there before them, who rising from his chair by the bedside, said, ’The woman is out of danger, if she ever was in any.’  ‘All the same,’ cried the peasant, ’Catherine wouldn’t refuse the Sacrament.’  ’But if she be in no danger, of what use would the Sacrament be to her?’ the doctor asked; the peasant answering, ’Faith, you must have been a Protestant before you were a Catholic to be talking like that,’ and Father Oliver hesitated, and left the cabin sorrowed by the unseemliness of the wrangle.  He was not, however, many yards down the road when the dispute regarding the efficacy of the Sacrament administered out of due time was wiped out by a memory of something