Ravenshoe. By Henry Kingsley.

68 RAVENSHOE.
William's office was barely a pleasant one. His affection for
his master led him most faithfully to attend to his interests; and,
as a Catholic, he was often brought into collision with Father
Mackworth, who took a laudable interest in Charles's affairs, and
considered himself injured on two or three occasions by the dogged refusal of William to communicate the substance and result
of a message forwarded through William, from Shrewsbury, to
Densil, which seemed to cause the old gentleman some thought
and anxiety. William's religious opinions, however, had got to
be somewhat loose, and to sit somewhat easily upon him, more
particularly since his sojourn at Oxford. He had not very long
ago confided to Charles, in a private sitting, that the conviction
which was strong upon his mind was that Father Mackworth
was not to be trusted, God forgive him for saying so; and, on
being pressed by Charles to state why, he point-blank refused to
give any reason whatever, but repeated his opinion with redoubled
emphasis. Charles had a great confidence in William's shrewdness, and forbore to -press him, but saw that something had occurred which had impressed the above conviction on William's
mind most strongly.
He had been sent from Oxford to see how the land lay at
home, and had met Charles at the Rose and Crown, at Stonnington, with saddle-horses. No sooner were they clear of the town
than William, without waiting for Charles's leave, put spurs to
his horse and rode up alongside of him.
"'What is your news, William?"
"Nothing very great. Master looks bothered and worn."
" About this business of mine.".
" The priest goes on talking about it, and plaguing him with
it, when he wants to forget it."' The deuce take him! He talks about me a good deal."
"'Yes; he has begun about you again. Master would n't
stand it the other day, and told him to hold his tongue, just like
his own self.. Tom heard him. They made it up afterwards,
though."
" What did Cuthbert say?"
" Master Cuthbert spoke up for you, and said he hoped there
was n't going to be a scene, and that you were n't coming to live
in disgrace, for that would be punishing every one in the house
for you."
"How's Mary?"
"She's well. Master don't trust her out of his sight much.
They will never set him against you while she is there. I wish
you would marry her, Master Charles, if you can give up the
other one."
Charles laughed and told him he was n't going to do anything
of the sort. Then he asked, " Any visitors?"