The Bars of Iron

s nothing mythical or allegorical in that subject in the opinion of the Reverend Stephen. He believed in it most firmly, and the belief afforded him the keenest satisfaction. It was a

make the most stubborn heart in his congregation tremble. He pictured himself delivering his splendid rhetoric with a grand and noble severity as impre

hat his eloquence was mere sound-not always even musical-and as a consequence its power was somewhat thrown away. His command of words was practically limitless, but words could not carry hi

vingly fingered the pages of his manuscript he told himself that it

owned. There was an unwritten law at the Vicarage that save for the

opened. Humbly h

very busy

never lacking. "Well, my dear Adelaide, I think I may truthfully s

burst of music wafted in with her, causi

, dear? Can we have a little t

ins to be said. We have as it were regarded the matter from every point of view. I do not

murmured Mrs. Lorimer, clasping the

in an unctuous smile. "Tho

pecially at the end of your sermons. That pause you make before you turn your

prelude?" enquired Mr. Lori

ed. "Shall we sit by the fire, Stephen, as we used to that

mer. "This sounds like a

the large easy-chair before the fire. It was the only really comf

to his. "This is a real treat," she said, laying her head against his knee with a

have to say to m

e said with a slight effort: "Your idea of a mother's help has worked wonderfully, Stephen. As you know, I was aver

phen, with brows elevated. "I pres

just a hint of apology in Mrs. Lorimer's voice. "She has been-and is-so very kind t

kind," said Mr. Lorimer,

e our equal in position,

of intimacy are often inadvisable. I do not think you are altogether discreet in making a bosom friend of a woman in Mrs. Denys's position. A very good wo

hing. She was sitting motionless

verity. "You will, therefore, Adelaide, in deference to my wish-if fo

ips moved, but t

e spoke with

with earnest, pleading eyes. "I am sorry, Stephen-dear Stephen-but I have already given my friendship to-to Mrs. Denys. S

ted Mr. Lorimer, i

wly forward in his chair and taking her chin between

ked searchingly into her eyes. The lids flickered nervo

?" he

vered. She s

eased her abruptly and dropped bac

tillness there crept again the faint strains of distant music. Someone was playing the Soldiers'

ngth and turned his hea

r. She was weeping softly and dared no

Mr. Lorimer's brows. "And what may Pie

e Jeanie," murmured h

santly. "A vast h

er's eyes. She began to feel f

the name with elaborate care,-"he come

me yesterday," fa

was as water drop

vex you unnecessarily. I hoped against hope-" She broke off, and knelt up before him, clasping his hand

The vertical line deepened between her husban

little sob. "Will not this little on

must be, must. I am afraid I must ask you to run away now as I have yet to put the finishing touches

. Lorimer suddenly and very unexpectedly rose first. She stood

ss me, Steph

tooped, slipping her arms about his nec

aide," he said with decision. "You must not let yourself get emotional. D

ispirited. "Forgive me,-oh, for

he shrugged his shoulders, beginning already to turn the pages of his masterpiece-"my forgiveness is yours. I wonder if you would care t

?" asked Mrs. Lor

tephen, "is the awful doom that

s. Lorimer did an extraordinary thing. Sh

ice was not wholly steady. "But I don't feel that that kind of diversion would do m

mer, turning in his chair to rebuke her frivol

when she had deemed it her dearest privilege to sit and listen to his sermons. He could not understand h

oment with the tears running down her face, he might