'Will his reverend leisure permit him to pass more than one day with
us?'
'Earnestly I hope so. You, beyond doubt, dear lord, my brother, will
desire long privacy with the holy man. His coming at this time is
plainly of Heaven's direction.'
'Lady sister,' answered Maximus, with the faintest smile on his sad
features, 'I would not willingly rob you of a moment's conference
with the good deacon. My own business with him is soon despatched. I
would fain be assured of burial in the Temple of Probus where sleep
our ancestors.'
'Of that,' replied Petronilla, solemnly and not unkindly, 'doubt not
for a moment. Your body shall lie there, by the blessed Peter's
sanctuary, and your tomb be honoured among those of the greatest of
our blood. But there is another honour that I covet for you, an
honour above all that the world can bestow. In these sad times,
Maximus, the Church has need of strengthening. You have no children--'
A glance from the listener checked her, and, before she could
resume, Maximus interposed in a low voice:
'I have yet a daughter.'
'A daughter?' exclaimed Petronilla, troubled, confused, scarce
subduing indignation.
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