She herself
had never talked of the matter with either her father, her mother,
or her husband. When at last her father had let drop some words
leading her to believe that that was the fact, she tried desperately
to extort the promise from Edward. She encountered an
unexpected obstinacy. Edward was perfectly willing that the girls
should be Catholic; the boys must be Anglican. I don't understand
the bearing of these things in English society. Indeed, Englishmen
seem to me to be a little mad in matters of politics or of religion.
In Edward it was particularly queer because he himself was
perfectly ready to become a Romanist. He seemed, however, to
contemplate going over to Rome himself and yet letting his boys
be educated in the religion of their immediate ancestors. This may
appear illogical, but I dare say it is not so illogical as it looks.
Edward, that is to say, regarded himself as having his own body
and soul at his own disposal. But his loyalty to the traditions of his
family would not permit him to bind any future inheritors of his
name or beneficiaries by the death of his ancestors. About the
girls it did not so much matter. They would know other homes
and other circumstances.
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