Page:The silent prince - a story of the Netherlands (IA cu31924008716957).pdf/29

 Junius regretted his harsh accusation as he gazed into the guileless face of the boy, and his heart smote him with sharp reproach. He would gladly have retracted his words, when he saw the pain he had caused. He had unwittingly changed the whole tenor of that young life. He had forever closed the golden door of trust in that young heart. With a word he had exposed the sin and misery of the world in their nakedness. With a look of compassion, and with infinite tenderness, he answered,

“Yes, my boy.”

“And is it because you are a heretic that you will not seek my uncle's presence?”

Again the preacher nodded assent.

Hugo Berlaymont stood for a moment in thoughtful silence, then he said, “Seigneur, I want to know more about your religion.”

Junius smiled sadly. “Why seek, my boy, to enter upon so dangerous an experiment? You are young, and your path in life is without doubt already mapped out for you.”

“Seigneur, I must know the truth.”

The preacher was silent for a few moments. The passion for souls was strong within him. In this time of religious and political upheaval, mighty interests left small space for delicacy of feeling. The thought that he was acting in direct antagonism to the wishes of the lad's natural guardian never