"It isn't the money. I think you hardly understand my position, Father Marty." It seemed to Neville that if it was ever his intention to open out his scheme to the priest, now was his time for doing so. They had come to the cross roads at which one way led down to the village and to Father Marty's house, and the other to the spot on the beach where the boat would be waiting. "I can't very well go on to Liscannor," said Neville.
"Give me your word before we part that you will keep your promise to Miss O'Hara," said the priest.
"If you will step on a few yards with me I will tell you just how I am situated." Then the priest assented, and they both went on towards the beach, walking very slowly. "If I alone were concerned, I would give up everything for Miss O'Hara. I am willing to give up everything as regards myself. I love her so dearly that she is more to me than all the honours and wealth that are to come to me when my uncle dies."
"What is to hinder but that you should have the girl you love and your uncle's honours and wealth into the bargain?"
"That is just it."
"By the life of me I don't see any difficulty. You're your own masther. The ould Earl can't disinherit you if he would."
"But I am bound down."
"How bound? Who can bind you?"
"I am bound not to make Miss O'Hara Countess of Scroope."
"What binds you? You are bound by a hundred promises to make her your wife."
"I have taken an oath that no Roman Catholic shall become Countess Scroope as my wife."
"Then, Mr. Neville, let me tell you that you must break your oath."
"Would you have me perjure myself?"
"Faith I would. Perjure yourself one way you certainly must, av' you've taken such an oath as that, for you've sworn many oaths that you would make this Catholic lady your wife. Not make a Roman Catholic Countess of Scroope! It's the impudence of some of you Prothestants that kills me entirely. As though we couldn't count Countesses against you and beat you by chalks! I ain't the man to call hard names, Mr. Neville; but if one of us is upstarts, it's aisy seeing which. Your uncle's an ould man, and I'm told nigh to his latter end. I'm not saying but what you should respect even his wakeness. But you'll not look me in the face and tell me that afther what's come and gone that young lady is to be cast on one side like a plucked rose, because an ould man has spoken a foolish word, or because a young man has made a wicked promise."