"Quite satisfactory."

"But," said Donal, "there is one thing I should be more at ease if I
told your lordship: Mr. Carmichael, the minister of this parish,
would tell you I was an atheist, or something very like
it--therefore an altogether unsafe person. But he knows nothing of
me."

"On what grounds then would he say so?" asked the earl--showing not
the least discomposure. "I thought you were a stranger to this
place!"

Donal told him how they had met, what had passed between them, and
how the minister had behaved in consequence. His lordship heard him
gravely, was silent for a moment, and then said,

"Should Mr. Carmichael address me on the subject, which I do not
think likely, he will find me already too much prejudiced in your
favour. But I can imagine his mistaking your freedom of speech: you
are scarcely prudent enough. Why say all you think?"

"I fear nothing, my lord."

The earl was silent; his gray face seemed to grow grayer, but it
might be that just then the sun went under a cloud, and he was
suddenly folded in shadow. After a moment he spoke again.

"I am quite satisfied with you so far, Mr. Grant; and as I should
not like to employ you in direct opposition to Mr. Carmichel--not
that I belong to his church--we will arrange matters before he can