"Yes."
"How much longer must you remain here?"
"Perhaps one year: perhaps two."
"Can you persecute, can you hold out so long?"
"Oh, I will hold out. Nothing shall deter me. Sanctity, it is not that which makes me afraid."
"Dear son, what makes you afraid?"
"The afterwards. These people are to be my superiors or equals—colleagues for life. I am not afraid of poverty or wickedness among the people to whom I am to minister: but, my brother-priests—I shall be at the orders of some of these people, my rectors, my diocesans even. That makes me afraid."
"Did you not know what kind of people——"
"Yes, I did know: but I did not realize it till I came here."
"Yet you choose to persevere?"