to the powers that were, they were none the less busy in private
in plotting their overthrow.

Ever since April last they had been playing at hide-and-seek
through the length and breadth of England, and now they were
only lying quiet till expected news from Ireland should give
them their cue, and a great "rising of the West" should sweep
from her throne that stiff-necked, persecuting, excommunicate,
reprobate, illegitimate, and profligate usurper, who falsely called
herself the Queen of England.

For they had as stoutly persuaded themselves in those days,
as they have in these (with a real Baconian contempt of the
results of sensible experience), that the heart of England was
really with them, and that the British nation was on the point
of returning to the bosom of the Catholic Church, and giving
up Elizabeth to be led in chains to the feet of the rightful
Lord of Creation, the Old Man of the Seven Hills. And this
fair hope, which has been skipping just in front of them for
centuries, always a step farther off, like the place where the
rainbow touches the ground, they used to announce at times,
in language which terrified old Mr. Leigh. One day, indeed,
as Eustace entered his father's private room, after his usual
visit to the mill, he could hear voices high in dispute; Parsons
as usual, blustering; Mr. Leigh peevishly deprecating, and
Campian, who was really the sweetest-natured of men, trying
to pour oil on the troubled waters. Whereat Eustace (for the
good of the cause, of course) stopped outside and listened.

"My excellent sir," said Mr. Leigh, "does not your very
presence here show how I am affected toward the holy cause
of the Catholic faith? But I cannot in the meanwhile forget
that I am an Englishman."

"And what is England?" said Parsons: "A heretic and
schismatic Babylon, whereof it is written, 'Come out of her,
my people, lest you be partaker of her plagues.' Yea, what is
a country? An arbitrary division of territory by the princes
of this world, who are nought, and come to nought. They are
created by the people's will; their existence depends on the
sanction of him to whom all power is given in heaven and
earth--our Holy Father the Pope. Take away the latter, and
what is a king?--the people who have made him may unmake
him."

"My dear sir, recollect that I have sworn allegiance to
Queen Elizabeth!"

"Yes, sir, you have, sir; and, as I have shown at large

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