Wiseman, at the head of them, was
watching and waiting with special eagerness. His hand was held
out under the ripening fruit; the delicious morsel seemed to be
trembling on its stalk; and yet it did not fall. At last, unable
to bear the suspense any longer, he dispatched to Littlemore
Father Smith, an old pupil of Newman's, who had lately joined the
Roman communion, with instructions that he should do his best,
under cover of a simple visit of friendship, to discover how the
land lay. Father Smith was received somewhat coldly, and the
conversation ran entirely on topics which had nothing to do with
religion. When the company separated before dinner, he was
beginning to think that his errand had been useless; but, on
their reassembling, he suddenly noticed that Newman had changed
his trousers, and that the colour of the pair which he was now
wearing was grey. At the earliest moment, the emissary rushed
back post-haste to Dr. Wiseman. 'All is well,' he exclaimed;
'Newman no longer considers that he is in Anglican orders."
Praise be to God!' answered Dr Wiseman. 'But how do you know?'
Father Smith described what he had seen. 'Oh, is that all? My
dear father, how can you be so foolish?' But Father Smith was not
to be shaken. 'I know the man,' he said, and I know what it
means. Newman will come, and he will come soon.
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