But we must suffer first.

_Et pati et mori_.

Father Franklin, there must be no faltering." There was a long silence.
The news was too stunning to convey anything to the priest but a sense of horrible shock.

The thought had simply never entered his mind that he, a man under forty, should be considered eligible to succeed this wise, patient old prelate.

As for the honour--Percy was past that now, even had he thought of it.