Mousley asked.
"I think he's rather annoyed at your being so late," said Mark.
"Late for what?"
"Is that you, Mark, down there?" asked the Missioner.
"I'm lighting Mr. Mousley across the gymnasium," Mark explained. "I
think I'd better take him up to his room."
"If your young friend is as clever at managing rooms as he is at
managing houses we shall get on splendidly, Father Rowley. I have
perfect confidence in his manner with rooms. He soothed this house in
the most remarkable way. It was jumping about like a pea in a pod till
he caught hold of the reins."
"Mark, go to bed. I will see Mr. Mousley to his room."
"Several years ago," said the drunken priest. "I went with an old friend
to see Miss Ellen Terry as Lady Macbeth. The resemblance between Father
Rowley and Miss Ellen Terry is very remarkable. Good-night, Lidderdale,
I am perfectly comfortable on this mat. Good-night."
In the gallery above Mark, who had not dared to disobey Father Rowley's
orders, asked him what was to be done to get Mr. Mousley to bed.
"Go and wake Cartwright and Warrender to help me to get him upstairs,"
the Missioner commanded.
"I can help you. . . ." Mark began.
"Do what I say," said the Missioner curtly.
In the morning Father Rowley sent for Mark to give his account of what
had happened the night before, and when Mark had finished his tale, the
priest sat for a while in silence.
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