"If you weren't a priest," said Pat, "the devil a bit of you would
put me out of the door."

"If I weren't a priest I would break every bone in your body for
talking to me like that. Now out you go," he said, taking him by
the collar, and he put him out.

"And now, Kate Kavanagh," said the priest, coming back from the
door, "you said you didn't marry because no man would have you.
Peter has been waiting for you ever since you were a girl of
sixteen years old, and I may say it for him, since he doesn't say
much himself, that you have nearly broken his heart."

"I'm sure I never meant it. I like Peter."

"You acted out of recklessness without knowing what you were
doing."

A continual smile floated round Peter's moustache, and he looked
like a man to whom rebuffs made no difference. His eyes were
patient and docile; and whether it was the presence of this great
and true love by her side, or whether it was the presence of the
priest, Kate did not know, but a great change came over her, and
she said:--

"I know that Peter has been very good, that he has cared for me
this long while .... If he wishes to make me his wife--"

When Kate gave him her hand there was a mist in his eyes, and he
stood trembling before her.