“It is against myself that I am asking a girl to leave the convent, even for you, Peter,” said James. “But we can think of nothing else.”
“Peter will be able to tell us if it is a sin that we’d be doing.”
“It is only right that Catherine should know the truth before she made her vows,” Peter said. “But this is very unexpected, father. I really—”
“Peter, I’d take it as a great kindness. I shall never do a hand’s turn in this country. I want to get to America. It will be the saving of me.”
“And now, Peter,” said his father, “tell us for sure if you will have the girl?”
“Faith I will, though I never thought of marriage, if it be to please James.” Seeing how heart-sick his brother was, he said, “I can’t say I like her as you like her; but if she likes me I will promise to do right by her.
