The Dweller on the Threshold

rgyman was still in the full flow of his many activities. He had been translated from his labors in Liverpool to a West End church in London. There he had proved hitherto an ast

ame down on his side. And, of all signs surely the most promising for a West End clergyman's success, smart people flocked to him to be married, and Arum lilies were perpetually being carried in and out of his chancel, which was adorned with Morris windows. He was married to a woman who managed t

ng immediately perceived, Mr.

y eyes, he looked like a man who was intended by nature to dominate. White threads appeared in his thick brown hair, which he wo

hin, almost impalpable mist, that can scarcely be seen, yet that alters all the features in a landscape ever so faintly. Like a shadow it traveled across the eyes, obscu

rom Waterloo. Mr. Harding was also on foot, with his senior curate, the Rev. Henry Chichester, who was an acquaintance of Malling, but whom Malling had not seen for a considerable period of time, having been out on his estate in Ceylon. At the moment when Malling arr

see you. Yet I supposed you to be still in Ceylon." He glanced at the rector rather doubtfully, seemed to tak

new-comer with an inter

Stepton has spoken to me," he said,-"who

es

omes to my churc

heard hi

ndon I was at Liverpool, and learned there to love great r

curate's eye a

?" asked Malling. "I am

reet to Cad

you as far as Victoria S

ld be wiser to take a h

remem

. Walking always does

ost in a ton

more, and the three men

walking between

y with two men who, perhaps, had quite recently had a difference which they were endeavoring out of courtesy to conceal from him. Perhaps there had been a slight quarrel over some parish matter. Certainly when he

reason. But while he did so he talked, and endeavored to r

nt. But presently Malling noticed a thing that struck him as odd. Chichester began to "chip in" now and then, and whenever he did so it was either to modify what Mr. Harding had just said, or to check him in what he was saying, or abruptly to introduce a new topic of talk. Sometimes Mr. Harding did not appear to notice these interruptions; at other times he obviously resented them; at others again he yielded with an air of anxiety, almost of fear, to his curate's atten

trained observer and a man in whom investigation had become a habit. Now that he was no longer ill at ease he became deeply interested in the relations between the two men

The gentleness of a saint had been his, but scarcely the firmness of a saint. Industrious, dutiful, and conscientious, he had not struck Malling as a man of strong intellect, though he was a cultivated and well-educated man. Though not governed by his own passions,-when one looked at him one had been inclined to doubt whether he had any,-he had seemed prone

e critical, watchful, almost-so at moments it seemed to Malling-aggressive curate wh

ar the stronger of the two, both in intellect and character. Not so saintly, perhaps, he was more likely to influence others. Firmness showed in his forcible chin, energy in the large lines of his mouth, decision in his clear

to the turning at the

chester st

said, speaking across

r looked

" he asked, with rat

n Cadogan

ber. You told us yo

ster. "We are taking t

ingt

all walk," sa

know we

time. Tell them I sh

rea

r. I will walk on

better not," began Chi

exclaimed Mr. Hardi

you remember that yesterda

I wish to walk. Exercise al

k," said the cu

ously not Mr. Har

r but decisive voice. "We will meet at the School at four. You will have plenty of time if you t

staring into Mr. Harding's fac

ell. Go

and was lost in the t

n expression of relief over

ny for a little longer,

be glad t

gan Square. After two or three min

Chichest

imes with some friends of mine, the Crespignys.

very goo

ellent

mited in his outlook. He

exactly t

no remark. He was quite certain that snap was merely the preliminary to some further remark ab

e knows, the wider one's outlook, the readier one is to shut one's eyes to the foibles, even

he agree

o say, difficult to sa

e, o

tain

talked to me about yo

lin

an," said Malling al

pathway of faith. But he's a man I respect. And I believe he'll get out into the li

ny careful investigati

-"we know very little even now, with all that has been done, as to-to the

indeed," rejo

his companion's manner, but was q

g voice. "I often feel as if the soul were a sort of mysterious fluid, and that when we what is called influence an

Malling,

t a rather shar

getting on this subjec

ainly

ather a strange one for

lergymen deeply interested i

e, which had been

iful than a childlike faith in the Great Being who is above all worlds, in the anima mundi. But it would be unnatural in us if we did not earnestly desire that our faith be proved, scientifically proved, to be wel

s turn to look shar

iments yourself, may I as

and was obviously embar

urch and my parish, and one thing and another, I get very little time for outsid

er share your inte

inor degree," answered the

Sloane Street a

turn o

ection," said the rector, who seemed very loath to lea

surely development is nat

nges drastically, sheds his ch

erhaps of what is

e are almost bound to become psychologists if we are to do any good. It becomes a habit with many of us to study closely our fellow-men. Now I, for instance; I

said

, our friend Chichester

ve 'placed'

had, I thou

ness, and the air of a man forced into an action ag

little or nothing. Changes occur and are not noticed by them. A man and his wife live together and grow old. But does either ever notice when the face of the other begins first to lose its bloom, to take on that peculiar, unmistakable

lamorous still, insistent in their demand upon Malling. Nevertheless voice and eyes pushed Malling t

changed! I

's counten

en't obs

him to-day and walking

rue! Qui

tated for a minu

. But Stepton has told me so much about you that I cannot feel we are quite strangers. I should like you to have an opportunity of observing Hen

, if I pos

our ad

miling, pointed to the

live

k and a pencil from his pock

"I live in Onslow

you. Go

way toward South Kensington, while Malling inserted hi