Fortunately he had been a well-disposed
man, with Catholic sympathies, or grave trouble might have followed. But
this proposal of a visit to London seemed to her impossible. She had
never been to London in her life; it appeared to her as might a voyage
to the moon. Derby seemed oppressingly large and noisy and dangerous;
and Derby, she understood, was scarcely more than a village compared to
London.
"I could not do it," she said presently. "I could not leave my mother."
Anthony explained further.
It was evident that Booth's Edge was becoming more and more a harbour
for priests, owing largely to Mistress Marjorie's courage and piety. It
was well placed; it was remote; and it had so far avoided all suspicion.
Padley certainly served for many, but Padley was nearer the main road;
and besides, had fallen under the misfortune of losing its master for
the very crime of recusancy. It seemed to be all important, therefore,
that the ruling mistress of Booth's Edge, since there was no master,
should meet as many priests as possible, in order that she might both
know and be known by them; and here was such an opportunity as would not
easily occur again. Here were a dozen priests, all to be together at one
time; and of these, at least two-thirds would be soon in the north. How
convenient, therefore, it would be if their future hostess could but
meet them, learn their plans, and perhaps aid them by her counsel.
But she shook her head resolutely.
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