Fabiola : or, The church of the catacombs - Digital Repository Services

'In trntli, I did,' replied Catherine smiling, 'and moreover
I am :i Catholic m\sc]l'.'
The aunt was too weak to say much, u i
the
Tin:/-, TO Tin:XT. l.i
yum;
girl not spunk to her about religion; adding thai, x/ic was a Protestant,
and would die in that creed.
Although Dame: Barnby spoke thus, she felt far from easy as
to the future. She was not really attached to any faith; Imi now
that her last hour seemed to be approaching, she found that rcli-
{lion was the only thing that could give her consolation. The
old Irishwoman often came and sat by tin' bedside of her sick
neighbor, and she and Catherine would talk to her of the world
beyond the grave, of repentance for past sins, of the passion and
death of our Saviour, and explain to her the Catholic doctrine.
Several times they pressed her to see the priest; but to this she
always gave a determined refusal.
Many wise dames, who knew Winifred Barnby, prophesied
that she had not long to live. But she possesed a strong consti-
tution, and after weeks of suffering there was a gradual improvement
in her state; the fever subsided, she was able to rest at night,
and towards the end of January, although still very weak, she
could once more move about her cottage, or sit in the old wooden
arm-chair by the fire, or, when the day was very fine, by the
open window.
It was during her long and painful illness that Dame Barnby
noticed and admired more than she had hitherto done the good
qualities of her young niece. Besides being attentive to her
sick relative, Catherine did the principal work in the cottage,
and looked after her younger cousins. Her aunt was surprised
to see one so young and joyous displaying a steadiness and de-
yotedness rarely found even in those much older ; and it occurred
to her that this was perhaps owing to the religion of which
Catherine spoke with such love and reverence.
Dame Barnby had approached the threshold of death, and at
that fearful moment her immortal soul awoke as it were from a
deep slumber; vague terrors seized the poor woman, and as it
was only when Catherine knelt by her and prayed, or spoke to
her of the mercies of God, of Jesus Christ having died to redeem
the world, or of the intercession of His holy Mother on behalf of
sinners, that she experienced some peace and for a short interval
fear would yield to confidence in her Maker.
But she was now restored to health, and although the thought
of serving God faithfully for the future did not quite abandon
her, it must bo owned that it grew much weaker. The fact was,
that when Winifred lay on what she supposed would be her
deathbed, only one thing seemed to her necessary, namely, to
save her soul; but now that in all probability .she had many
years to live, worldly interests opposed her good intentions.
The Catholic religion she believed to be the true one; but to em-
brace it exposed her to many dangers.
Another consideration acted powerfully on Dame Barnby's
mind, and deterred her from doing what she well knew to be her
duty. Her husband had belonged to that band of wreckers of
which the Castermans had long been the leaders. After his
death she still carried on business with them: she conveyed their
ill-gotten goods to the Jews; she brought tidings to the inhabitants
of Ty-an-dour of any ship she perceived laboring in a
storm; or else she gave warning to the rest of the band that the
Castermans would require their services on the coast near their
own house; in return for which they allowed her a small share
in their gain, and moreover promised to take Maw out willi
them as soon as he was ten years old. To abandon these connec-
tions would have been a loss to her; and yet, from the conversations
she had had with Bridget and Catherine, she plainly saw
that if she became a Catholic she must do so. It is true that she
also gained money by more honorable means, by spinning helping
during harvest-time to bind the corn, and selling fish in the
market; but in her straitened circumstances the loss of the Castermans'
support and aid was a thing of no small consequence.
While Dame Barnby was thus hesitating between Hie interests
of this world and those of the next, while Widow O'Reilly and
'hie redoubled their prayers for her conversion, !^
rman waa very differently, though not less completely, oc-
cupied with end- ir Reginald liar
hoi-ed prl its. Three months since his interview with the .Jew
had pa.s-.ed, and he had not obtained any information.
'
: I shall in
to
his brother one in
they were both engaged in arranging their nets on the shore.
'I wish I could; fifty pounds would pay the debt to thai old
Jew. '
'
Well, why don't '
you try what he told you; that,
friends with some of the scrvanls'.' replied .Mark. 'They like
is to make
to talk about their master's allairs. There is on: lull fellow
passes here pretty often, just ask him some quest!
time.
'
Why, I've been in the kitchen of the Manor several I
hut I could not ask them about priests and Hie like; 1 don't suppose
they would tell me. I never said a word to the fellow you
mean, though I have often seen him; however, 1 will best. But look now to the
try my
nets. Here, spread out this one;'
and the brothers continued their work in silence.
Some days after, as Stephen was leaving the house, intending
to proceed to town, he saw Larry coining from the Manor, and
walking in the same direction, 'Good afternoon to you.' .said
the wrecker, approaching him. The servant returned the
salutation.
'You are one of Sir Reginald's attendants?' continued
Stephen,
'Of course I am; and there is not a gentleman in all England
or Ireland that I would sooner be serving than his honor.'
' What all of the sheriff's visit? You were much
thought you
frightened, I suppose?'
'
Fnghtencdl sure and what should we be frightened for?' re-
plied Larry.
'
Well, I know not,' said the other; '
but I suppose you had
priests in the house?'
'
Suppose we had, if ye likes.'
'
But is it not true that your master dries harbor them some-
times? The Jew told me that all Papists do.'
'
Sure, man, what would you have a Jew know about the ways
of Christian folk? But is it thinking of entering his honor's ser-
vice ye are?'
'I!' replied Casterman indignantly. 'I would not be a ser-
vant for the world.'
'
Well, then don't bo wearing the life out of me with ycr
tions, sure. I thought, of course, that it was seeing if the house
would suit you, you were; but if that is not it, I will just wish
you good-morning.' So saying Larry turned down a side street,
for they had now reached the town- and Casterman continued
his road to the house of the Jew, reporting to him his ill-success
All went on peacefully in the Manor-house and in Dame
Baruby's cottage during the next three months; the inhabitants of
the former were disturbed by no visits from the commissioner,
nor by attempts on the part of Casterman to gain information
from their servants. Father Ralph, who now parsed as be-
ing preceptor to Austin, made frequent inissonary journeys
through Cornwall, and always returned in
safety to Sir
Reginald's
One soft warm afternoon in May, Catherine entered the cot-
tage with her apron full of wild flowers which she hud gathered
on ter way from the Manor. Her aunt was alone in the
kitchen, her spinning-wheel revolving rapidly as she drew out
the long white tread from her
when her niece came in.
distaff; she stopped working
' How you iove those wild flowers, child!' said the dame.
'Indeed I lo,' replied Catherine smiling; they are -, heaulifull
O, what must heaven be, if the things of earth an
fair!'
'
It is a happy thing to see the world that way, Kate/ said her
aunt. Then after she had paused for a tew minutes as jiough
reflecting on the young girls exclamation, she continued Bin
there are many sorrows in thin wor d that make one think iittl:,
of its beauty and as lor the next, r.t. many tciks troub-e - their.
selves about it- and yet ought, she added in a more serious
tone; '
tor 1 have been brought back, as it were from deatli by