It was notorious that servants did ascribe the very worst motives to those they worked for.
The bare thought of the delight an Irish servant would have in also dragging a Protestant clergyman into the thing was sickening.

And what could she want to talk to him about, anyway?
The minute of silence stretched itself out upon his nerves into an interminable period of anxious unhappiness.

Her mention of the doctor at last somehow, seemed to lighten the situation.
"Oh, I thought he was very smart." he made haste to answer.

"Wouldn't it be better--to--keep close to your man?
He--may--think we've gone some other way." "It wouldn't matter if he did," remarked Celia.

She appeared to comprehend his nervousness and take pity on it, for she added, "It is my brother Michael, as good a soul as ever lived.