Father Macclesfield'S Tale

Fiction & Literature, Classics, Historical
Cover of the book Father Macclesfield'S Tale by R H Benson, WDS Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: R H Benson ISBN: 1230000140757
Publisher: WDS Publishing Publication: June 10, 2013
Imprint: Language: English
Author: R H Benson
ISBN: 1230000140757
Publisher: WDS Publishing
Publication: June 10, 2013
Imprint:
Language: English

Monsignor Maxwell announced next day at dinner that he had already
arranged for the evening's entertainment. A priest, whose acquaintance he
had made on the Palatine, was leaving for England the next morning; and
it was our only chance therefore of hearing his story. That he had a
story had come to the Canon's knowledge in the course of a conversation
on the previous afternoon.

'He told me the outline of it,' he said, 'I think it very remarkable. But
I had a great deal of difficulty in persuading him to repeat it to the
company this evening. But he promised at last. I trust, gentlemen, you do
not think I have presumed in begging him to do so.'


Father Macclesfield arrived at supper.

He was a little unimposing dry man, with a hooked nose, and grev hair. He
was rather silent at supper; but there was no trace of shyness in his
manner as he took his seat upstairs, and without glancing round once,
began in an even and dispassionate voice:

'I once knew a Catholic girl that married an old Protestant three times
her own age. I entreated her not to do so; but it was useless. And when
the disillusionment came she used to write to me piteous letters, telling
me that her husband had in reality no religion at all. He was a convinced
infidel; and scouted even the idea of the soul's immortality.

'After two years of married life the old man died. He was about sixty
years old; but very hale and hearty till the end.

'Well, when he took to his bed, the wife sent for me; and I had
half-a-dozen interviews with him; but it was useless. He told me plainly
that lye wanted to believe--in fact he said that the thought of
annihilation was intolerable to him. If he had had a child he would not
have hated death so much; if his flesh and blood in any manner survived
him, he could have fancied that he had a sort of vicarious life left; but
as it was there was no kith or kin of his alive; and he could not bear
that.'

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Monsignor Maxwell announced next day at dinner that he had already
arranged for the evening's entertainment. A priest, whose acquaintance he
had made on the Palatine, was leaving for England the next morning; and
it was our only chance therefore of hearing his story. That he had a
story had come to the Canon's knowledge in the course of a conversation
on the previous afternoon.

'He told me the outline of it,' he said, 'I think it very remarkable. But
I had a great deal of difficulty in persuading him to repeat it to the
company this evening. But he promised at last. I trust, gentlemen, you do
not think I have presumed in begging him to do so.'


Father Macclesfield arrived at supper.

He was a little unimposing dry man, with a hooked nose, and grev hair. He
was rather silent at supper; but there was no trace of shyness in his
manner as he took his seat upstairs, and without glancing round once,
began in an even and dispassionate voice:

'I once knew a Catholic girl that married an old Protestant three times
her own age. I entreated her not to do so; but it was useless. And when
the disillusionment came she used to write to me piteous letters, telling
me that her husband had in reality no religion at all. He was a convinced
infidel; and scouted even the idea of the soul's immortality.

'After two years of married life the old man died. He was about sixty
years old; but very hale and hearty till the end.

'Well, when he took to his bed, the wife sent for me; and I had
half-a-dozen interviews with him; but it was useless. He told me plainly
that lye wanted to believe--in fact he said that the thought of
annihilation was intolerable to him. If he had had a child he would not
have hated death so much; if his flesh and blood in any manner survived
him, he could have fancied that he had a sort of vicarious life left; but
as it was there was no kith or kin of his alive; and he could not bear
that.'

More books from WDS Publishing

Cover of the book The Land Of Mist by R H Benson
Cover of the book The Prairie Chief by R H Benson
Cover of the book Some Everyday Folk and Dawn by R H Benson
Cover of the book The Revolt of Man by R H Benson
Cover of the book My New Year's Eve Among the Mummies by R H Benson
Cover of the book The Wreck of the South Pole by R H Benson
Cover of the book Rigby's Romance by R H Benson
Cover of the book Helen Vardon's Confession by R H Benson
Cover of the book Bush Studies by R H Benson
Cover of the book A Night's Adventure in Rome by R H Benson
Cover of the book Soo Thah: A Tale of the Making of the Karen Nation by R H Benson
Cover of the book What Diantha Did by R H Benson
Cover of the book The Botathen Ghost by R H Benson
Cover of the book The Adventures of Louis de Rougemont by R H Benson
Cover of the book The Shortstop by R H Benson
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy