“This is how the matter stands,” said Anthony, crossing his legs.  “We have a dozen priests coming all together—­at least, they will not travel together, of course; but they will all reach London before Christmas, and there they will hold counsel as to who shall go to the districts.  Eight of them, I have no doubt, will come to the north.  There are as many priests in the south as are safe at the present time—­or as are needed.  Now if you were to come with me, mistress—­with a serving-maid, and my sister would be with us—­we could meet these priests, and speak with them, and make their acquaintance.  That would remove a great deal of danger.  We must not have that affair again which fell out last month.”

Marjorie nodded slowly. (It was wonderful how her gravity had grown on her these last two years.)

She knew well enough what he meant.  It was the affair of the clerk who had come from Derby on a matter connected with her father’s will about the time she was looking for the arrival of a strange priest, and who had been so mistaken by her.  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.

“I cannot do it,” she said.

Anthony made a little gesture of resignation.  But, indeed, he had scarcely hoped to persuade her.  He knew it was a formidable thing to ask of a countrybred maid.

“Then we must do as well as we can,” he said.  “In any case, I must go.  There is a priest I have to meet in any case; he is returning as soon as he has bestowed the rest.”