CHAPTER VII.
FATHER MARTY'S HOSPITALITY.
Such was the philosophy, or, perhaps, it may be better said such was the humanity of Father Marty! But in encouraging Mrs.O'Hara to receive this dangerous visitor he had by no means spoken without consideration.

In one respect we must abandon Father Marty to the judgment and censure of fathers and mothers.

The whole matter looked at from Lady Scroope's point of view was no doubt very injurious to the priest's character.

He regarded a stranger among them, such as was Fred Neville, as fair spoil, as a Philistine to seize whom and capture him for life on behalf of any Irish girl would be a great triumph;--a spoiling of the Egyptian to the accomplishment of which he would not hesitate to lend his priestly assistance, the end to be accomplished, of course, being marriage.

For Lord Scroope and his family and his blood and his religious fanaticism he could entertain no compassion whatever.