’A bad mentor for him.  Antics are harmless, though they get us laughed at,’ said Philip.

‘You may restrain him from excesses.’

’Were I in that position, you would consider me guilty of greater than any poor Con is likely to commit.’

‘Surely you are not for disunion?’

‘The reverse.  I am for union on juster terms, that will hold it fast.’

‘But what are the terms?’

He must have desired to paint himself as black to her as possible.  He stated the terms, which were hardly less than the affrighting ones blown across the Irish sea by that fierce party.  He held them to be just, simply sensible terms.  True, he spoke of the granting them as a sure method to rally all Ireland to an ardent love of the British flag.  But he praised names of Irish leaders whom she had heard Mr. Rockney denounce for disloyal insolence:  he could find excuses for them and their dupes—­ poor creatures, verily!  And his utterances had a shocking emphasis.  Then she was not wrong in her idea of the conspirator’s head, her first impression of him!

She could not quit the theme:  doing that would have been to be indifferent:  something urged her to it.

‘Are they really your opinions?’

He seemed relieved by declaring that they were.

‘Patrick is quite free of them,’ said she.

’We will hope that the Irish fever will spare Patrick.  He was at a Jesuit college in France when he was wax.  Now he’s taking the world.’

‘With so little of the Jesuit in him!’

‘Little of the worst:  a good deal of the best.’

‘What is the best?’

’Their training to study.  They train you to concentrate the brain upon the object of study.  And they train you to accept service:  they fit you for absolute service:  they shape you for your duties in the world; and so long as they don’t smelt a man’s private conscience, they are model masters.  Happily Patrick has held his own.  Not the Jesuits would have a chance of keeping a grasp on Patrick!  He’ll always be a natural boy and a thoughtful man.’

Jane’s features implied a gentle shudder.

‘I shake a scarlet cloak to you?’ said Philip.

She was directed by his words to think of the scarlet coat.  ’I reflect a little on the substance of things as well,’ she said.  ’Would not Patrick’s counsels have an influence?’

‘Hitherto our Patrick has never presumed to counsel his elder brother.’

‘But an officer wearing . . .’

’The uniform!  That would have to be stripped off.  There’d be an end to any professional career.’

‘You would not regret it?’

’No sorrow is like a soldier’s bidding farewell to flag and comrades.  Happily politics and I have no business together.  If the country favours me with active service I’m satisfied for myself.  You asked me for my opinions:  I was bound to give them.  Generally I let them rest.’