Father Stafford

Inspects Mr. Morew

on the lawn at Millstead Manor. One was Morewood; the other had arrived only

ick, as the painter sat down by him, "on

o intellectual company,"

ual company," said Sir Roderi

l, intellectual company

last come up to

me, where I have b

erpetual dov

rything except the Bible. Why choose your

ou like your

new ne

elle

it's a not unwholesome astringe

of the constitution, of

it has," pursued Sir Rode

es

at will, no doubt, be eradicated as it rises more

ly, Ayre, and it doesn't annoy me. I came down her

rd then a prof

fellow. You're not fi

s," responded Sir Roderick. "It's the

writing a book. Do you

er since she

ncommonly ap

Staf

es

way of the Territons. They only began, you know,

doubt, like all your old families. Only-I say, Ayre, I

d Sir Roderick, with

ood. "But I should like to

nd the rest o

shown it

y n

l you've

would make rather a good

Here he

hey did not see the others and appeared to be deep in conversation. Stafford was

ff, hasn't he

es

n't care

k so; but a m

d Ayre. "What's

know he's

Bern

es

t, Morewood,

the picture. It's the finest

to exhi

r I've done of him, not this one; at lea

ainted him with

rewood ans

and

e, hands in pockets and pipe in

a soul all the morning, and thought I must have dropped down somewhere in Africa. It

ss Bernard?

inciples from Stafford in the shrubbery. My mother is learning equine principles from Bob Territon in the stables. Y

cture to be seen-M

oo

that I shall s

"I shall summon the servan

rd," sa

in full ca

ou're a friend of his,

from the west wing of the house. In the extreme end of it Mor

had said, "and I wouldn't cha

such," Eugene remarked, "as to make it

a stunner. Give us chairs and some bra

tugged at his ragged red beard for a momen

said, taking up one of the canv

of the vision of the Eternal City beyond the skies. It was the face of a devotee and a visionary, and yet it was full of strength

sneer, and Eu

bject! And, old fell

morning. He came out before breakfast, very early, into the garden. I was out there, but he didn't see me, and he stood looking up like that

o men

Ayre. "By Jove! I feel a

y,-we have to be, you know, if we're to do anything worth doing,-an

easel, standing for a moment between it and the onlookers

not, the beauty of youth and passion. The devotee was gone; in his place was a face that, in spite of the ascetic cast of feature, was so lighted up with the fire of love and longing that it might have stood

he picture, his old look of cynical amusement struggling with a surprise which it was against his profes

one of the finest things any one ever d

said E

ir, choosing the lowest he could find, and sat down, sitting well

ancy," he said, "or di

saw," the painter replied. "It's

ting, as it were,

od. "I thought you

sked Eugene, in

ed keenly at hi

on his knee. She sat reading, and he looking. In a moment I caught the look. Then she put down the book; and as she tu

t see?" as

N

himself, he looked at the two men, and saw what he h

y that thing, Mo

s face wa

said deliberately, "

housand pounds for

ld you do

rn

dn't have it fo

say that. But h

ad as a child. It's a m

said Eugene, "he

n get beyond any surprise at the revelation. He must walk his path, like a

tter to me," sai

of doors. Perhaps you'd better not le

tfolio, which he locked, and accompanied Ayre. Eugene made

clear summer sky, "is getting thundery and complicated. I

It will be

right. I'll stay

ve been looking for s

looking very fresh and co

done with the P

e had wasted enough time on

he was right," s

" said Claud

hether this meant that her actions had deserved no blame. However,

unger," said Ayre, "I would

t forty," said Claudia

eh? But go in and see Lane. He's in the billiard-roo

hall be

t that. Perhaps he

very kind glance, as she pursued

no harm," s

devil of a lot. We c

ness if we could

the door. Eugene was still si

"What's he looking at the ease

n to sing. Eu

ou, Lady

are you mo

's Sta

"asks me where Father Stafford is. I don't know, Mr. Lane; and what's more, at this moment

together. Tragedy airs

"I am remiss. For the purposes of the

and came cl

ed, "what do you think

isn't: that's a h

there is [in a still lo

wha

ocia

mean a t

-for

Eugene, gent

't it b

the

ps not; roun

if Kate saw us

ast with Mr.

has its use," replied Eugene tranqui

t. But w

ong. Be swift

nd put on an

ght; be

s well-if he will. Will he, I wonder? And would she? Oh, Lord! what a nui

of the quick transitions of his nature, was hardly less elate. Up-hill they toiled and down-hill they raced, getting, as the manner of "cyclists" is, very warm and rather oily. But retribution lagged not. Down a steep hill they came, round a sharp turn they went

seemed as embarrassed as themse

and said this in a hasty way a

rising politician held awkwardly in his hand, and was trying to convey behind his

e whispered triumphantly.

d, but she obeyed, and off they we

atter with he

truggling wi

Haddington had he

ant, a flushed, smiling face to him. He was about

ford at twelve, and I mustn't keep him wa

silence. And it is a comfort to the narrator, and it is to be hoped to the reader, to think that Mr. Eugene La