He seemed altogether easier at that.

“Why, that can be remedied to-morrow,” he said.  “If you have an altar stone and linen and vestments.  I have all else with me.”

We had these, and I told him so.

“Then you mean to lie at Hare Street to-night, sir?” I said.

“I had hoped to do so,” he said.  “I am come from Lincolnshire; and I was recommended to Mr. Jermyn’s if I could not get so far as Standon; and I cannot, for my horse is lame.”

* * * * *

My Cousin Tom received the priest in a surprising medley of emotions which he exhibited one by one to me who knew him so well.  He was at first plainly terrified at receiving a priest and a Jesuit; but, presently recovered himself a little and strove to remember that here was one of God’s priests who would bring a blessing on the house—­(and said so); finally all else was swallowed up in pleasure, or very nearly, when I took occasion on Mr. Hamerton’s going upstairs to pull off his boots, to tell him that I had seen this priest very intimate with His Royal Highness the Duke of York; and that he had been a near friend of Mr. Bedingfeld, the Duke’s confessor.

My Cousin Dorothy received him with the reverence that pious maids can shew so easily towards a priest.  She had his chamber ready for him in ten minutes; with fresh water in the basin and flowers upon the table:  she even set out for his entertainment three or four books of devotion by his bedside.  And all the time at supper she never ceased to give him attention, drawing the men’s eyes to his plate and cup continually.

Mr. Hamerton was a very quiet gentleman, wonderfully at his ease at once, and never losing his discretion; he talked generally and pleasantly at supper, of his road to Hare Street, and told us an edifying story or two of Catholics at whose houses he had lain on his way from Lincolnshire.  These Jesuits are wonderful folk:  he seemed to know the country all over, and where were the safer districts and where the dangerous.  I have no doubt he could have given me an excellent road-map with instructions that would take me safe from London to Edinburgh, if I had wished it.

“And have you never been troubled with highwaymen?” asked my Cousin Tom.

“No, Mr. Jermyn,” said the priest, “except once, and that was a Catholic robber.  I thought he was by the start he gave when he saw my crucifix as he was searching me; and taxed him with it.  So the end was, he returned me my valuables, and took a little sermon from my lips instead.”

* * * * *

When supper was over, and Dorothy had gone upstairs to make all ready for mass on the next morning, Mr. Hamerton, at our questioning, began to tell us a little of the state of politics and what he thought would happen; and every word that he said came true.

“His Grace of Monmouth will be our trouble,” he said.  “The King adores him; and he hath so far prevailed with His Majesty as to get the Duke of York sent twice to Scotland.  I think few folk understand what feeling there is in the country for the Protestant Duke.  It was through my Lord Shaftesbury, who is behind him, that His Royal Highness was actually sent away, for Monmouth could do nothing without him; and I have no kind of doubt that he has further schemes in his mind too.”