Father Stafford

s and Ol

hurch, to whom his views seemed dangerous and pernicious. He had administered a large parish with distinction; he had written a treatise of profound patristic learning and uncompromising sacerdotal pretensions. He had defended the institution of a celibate priesthood, and was known to have treated the Reformation with even less respect than it has been of late accustomed to receive. He had done more than all this: he had impressed all who met him with a character of absolute devotion and disinterestedness, and there were many who thought that a successor to the saints might be found in Stafford, if anywhere in this degenerate age. Yet though he was, or was thought to be, al

ning, and he was naturally anxious to find out whether that unlucky "Claudia" had been overheard. Claudia herself was listening to the conversation of Mr. Morewood, the well-known artist; and Sta

n meeting your friend Father

fellow," replied Eugene.

e Pope, don't you?" asked his

s not as if we called him the Arc

en that very personal,"

mpudence"; and that young lady found that she had fallen to the lot of Stafford, whereat she was well pleased.

to his soup, "is the young lady sitting by our friend the Fathe

id Mrs. Lane. "Very pretty, isn't

nless you did, I shouldn't beli

an unkindness, entertained the Bishop with an entirely fanciful catalogue of Claudia's virtues, which, being

thing, and apparently proposed to dine off dry bread. When she began to question him about his former parish, instead of sh

alk down to me,

ather stiffly, "to talk about subjects in

t be admitted that he had become used to more sub

ou are quite right. L

k about you. You've been

le knoc

irritated glance at his plate, whi

the g

he said; "that s

retty girl may say mo

killing yourself. Why don'

, was at this moment

ways of living," h

a very bad way.

ss the question just now. I notice you take a littl

because I

take it becau

s left hand, and was soon deep in reminiscences of old visits to the Manor, with which Kate contrived to intermingle a little flattery that Stafford recogn

th silent wonder. Here was a man who might and indeed ough

hat conveyed to that young lady the urgent idea that she was, as boys say, "dared" to make Father Stafford talk to her. This was quite enough. Helped by the

r Staf

on him a pair of large, dark eyes, brimming

t-but I thought y

spectacle from which we may well avert our eyes. Suffice it to say that a quarter

tentatious contumely. After all, the Academy must be allowed its feelings. Moreover, his opinions on many subjects were known to be extreme, and he was not chary of displaying them. He was sitting on Mrs. Lane's left, opposite the Bishop, and the latter had started with his hostess a discussion of t

se it has lost its own inspiration, and h

e disliked what seemed to him ill-bred attacks on

ropositions, Mr. Morewood," he said. "If I believed

," retorted Morewood. "And

't know," said

o construct or destroy as he will,-or again, I may say, as long as they are fluid,-they subserve the pleasura

Church with the Royal Academy," obs

, if I did," replied Morewood. "There's

he zeal, what do you say to the example of it among us now

rected a gl

!" he sai

a few more with the

believe a

he does," said the Bishop

o you

, and perhaps I have peered too

ked at him f

shop," he said more quietly, "bu

nd he turned pointedly to Mrs. Lane an

rsuade to come to a bazaar at Bellminster on the Monday. Bob was recalcitrant, and here too the atmosphere became a little disturbed. The only peo

Mr. Morewood, in the secret hope that that eccentric genius would make her the talk of the studios next summer by painting her portrait. Haddington and Bob had vanished with cigars; and Euge

r sign of relaxing her attitude of loft

Kate, if you were

ute s

ere, I couldn't very wel

laudia?" asked Kate,

cognized that his only chance lay in p

hat sort?" he asked; "a girl I've know

iled bi

afraid of your falling in love with Claudia; but it's very

t shall not occur agai

Eugene with too tight a rein, so, with a nearer approach

d her waist, and running her briskly along the te

hink you were a schoolboy. S

d Eugene composedly

ho

tting on the step of t

g! What's he

e's waiting on the chance

Kate, with an impatient tap of her foot;

, with the warmth of which Kate had no reason to be discontent. On the expiration of that time he pleaded his obligations as

gether. Leaving the other men, except the Bishop, who was already at r

w are you getting

d a great deal when I first broke down, but now I'm not sure a rest i

ink you can

at, my de

studiously emptied of everyth

dly tell her. There are some men who can make no terms with the body. Does that sound very medi?

ure for fear of be

rule for everybody. For me i

ht for a good man

the many-headed

r m

get at you fr

ell me

nes

I take that

ugene's arm, with a slight gesture of caress not unus

ver do it,"

-or, at leas

or too ear

o, but I wil

think you're

kno

will

d! but if

are meat, wine, a

t is beneath

is for if nobody is to be hanged. However, I'm determined that yo

ight. A moment later Bob Territon emerged

worst; however, I've won five poun

d to say

it with Miss Kate? I

art, Bob, and mine

t particula

aterial

u see the Fath

at do y

udia really puts her back into it, I wou

rd; and your expression about your sister

on didn't

ou too!" said Eugene im

and exclaimed enigmatically to the