He found in their society that note of enthusiasm which he missed in the religion of the college.

He responded warmly to their passionate devotion to the dream of an independent Irish Republic.

He felt less conscious of his want of religion in their company.

With the exception of Augusta Goold herself, the members of the coterie were professedly Roman Catholics; but this made little or no difference in their intercourse with him.

What he found in their ideals was a substitute for religion, a space where his enthusiasm might extend itself.