It was indeed strange that this soft-voiced, portly creature in a gown, with his white, fat hands and his feline suavity of manner, should produce such a commanding and unique effect of virility.No doubt this was a part of the great sex mystery which historically surrounded the figure of the celibate priest as with an atmosphere.
Women had always been prostrating themselves before it.
Theron, watching his companion's full, pallid face in the lamp-light, tried to fancy himself in the priest's place, looking down upon these worshipping female forms.
He wondered what the celibate's attitude really was.
The enigma fascinated him.
Father Forbes, after his rhetorical outburst, and been eating.
He pushed aside his cheese-plate."I grow enthusiastic on the subject of my race sometimes," he remarked, with the suggestion of an apology."But I make up for it other times--most of the time--by scolding them.
If it were not such a noble thing to be an Irishman, it would be ridiculous.""Ah," said Theron, deprecatingly, "who would not be enthusiastic in talking of Miss Madden? What you said about her was perfect.As you spoke, I was thinking how proud and thankful we ought to be for the privilege of knowing her--we who do know her well--although of course your friendship with her is vastly more intimate than mine--than mine could ever hope to be."
The priest offered no comment, and Theron went on:
"I hardly know how to describe the remarkable impression she makes upon me.I can't imagine to myself any other young woman so brilliant or broad in her views, or so courageous.
Of course, her being so rich makes it easier for her to do just what she wants to do, but her bravery is astonishing all the same.We had a long and very sympathetic talk in the woods, that day of the picnic, after we left you.
I don't know whether she spoke to you about it?"Father Forbes made a movement of the head and eyes which seemed to negative the suggestion.