Thus they lived through the months of January and February, 1881, at Morony Castle, and Florian had not as yet told his secret. As a boy his nature had seemed to be entirely¹ altered during the last six months. He was thoughtful, morose², and obstinate³ to a degree, which his father was unable to fathom⁴. But during these last two months there had been no intercourse⁵ between them. It may almost be said that no word had been addressed by either to the other. No further kind of punishment had been inflicted⁶. Indeed, the boy enjoyed a much wider liberty than had been given to him before, or than was good for him. For his father not only gave no orders to him, but seldom spoke⁷ concerning him. It was, however, a terrible trouble to his mind, the fact that his own son should be thus possessed⁸ of his own peculiar⁹ secret, and should continue from month to month hiding it within his own bosom¹⁰. With Father Malachi Mr. Jones was on good terms, but to him he could say nothing on the subject. The absurdity¹¹ of the conversion¹², or perversion¹³, of the boy, in reference to his religion, made Mr. Jones

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