He began dimly to understand that the Papists were not half so much concerned in the matter of cardinal doctrines of the faith as in asserting and upholding the temporal as well as the spiritual power of the Pope; and that this should be made the matter of the chiefest moment filled the boy's soul with a loathing and disgust which were strong enough to make him half a Protestant at once.
Sir Richard had seen almost as much, and was greatly interested in the lad; but it was difficult to know how to help him in days when parental authority was so absolute and so rigidly exercised.
"We must do what we can," said Sir Richard, waking from his reverie and shaking his head.

"But we must have patience too; and it will not be well for the boy to irritate his father too greatly.
Tomorrow I will go to the Gate House and see my uncle, and speak for the boy.

He ought to have the liberty of the law, and the law bids all men attend the services of the Established Church.

But it is ill work reasoning with a Papist of his type; and short of reporting the case to the authorities, meaning more persecution for my unlucky kinsman, I know not what may be done." "We must strive so to win upon him by gentle means that he permits his children free intercourse with ours," said gentle Lady Frances from her seat by the glowing hearth.

"It seems to me that that is all we may hope to achieve in the present.