Bassett took up the candle.
"Come," he said; "we have been here long enough."
CHAPTER III
I
"There will be a company of us to-night," said Mr. John to the two
priests, as he helped them to dismount. "Mr. Alban has sent his man
forward from Derby to say that he will be here before night."
"Mr. Ludlam and I are together for once," said Mr. Garlick. "We must
separate again to-morrow, he is for the north again, he tells me. There
has been no more trouble?"
"Not a word of it. They were beaten last time and will not try again, I
think, for the present. You heard of the attempt at Candlemas, then?"
* * * * *
It had been a quiet time enough ever since Lent, throughout the whole
county; and it seemed as if the heat of the assault had cooled for want
of success. Plainly a great deal had been staked upon the attack on
Padley, which, for its remoteness from towns, was known to be a
meeting-place where priests could always find harbourage. And, indeed,
it was time that the Catholics should have a little breathing space.
Things had been very bad with them--the arrest of Mr. Simpson, and,
still more, his weakness (though he had not as yet actually fulfilled
his promise of going to church, and was still detained in gaol); the
growing lukewarmness of families that seldom saw a priest; the blows
struck at the FitzHerbert family; and, above all, the defection of Mr.
Thomas--all these things had brought the hearts of the faithful very
low.
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