His father looked at him a moment, standing with his hands clasped behind his back.
"Have you heard anything of a priest that is newly come to these parts--or coming ?" "Yes, sir.

I hear mass is to be said ...

in the district on Sunday." "Where is mass to be said ?" Robin drew along breath, lifted his eyes to his father's and then dropped them again.
"Did you hear me, sir?
Where is mass to be said ?" Again Robin lifted and again dropped his eyes.
"What is the priest's name ?" Again there was dead silence.

For a son, in those days, so to behave towards his father, was an act of very defiance.

Yet the father said nothing.