The Dweller on the Threshold

s standing by one of the windows, looking out into Onslow Gard

are h

demand an explanation of Malling's presence in Mr. Harding's house, and as

are h

replied Mallin

t Chicheste

no objecti

t the curate to a sense of his own un

went searchingly over Malling's calm face-"that you could be here. I thought

we w

tably on a sofa. His ac

the fact that he wa

or coming to se

for a few minutes. We were s

e great friends!" said Chichester

made in a moment. I happened

ere?" exclaim

d Mr. Harding kindly

St. Joseph's this mor

alling and stare

you stay fo

he sermon. I had never h

d you think of it? Wha

d seemed to Malling to be rega

r. Harding wasn't in g

explained the ma

ter, with a rising voice, in which ther

nervous dyspepsia, and that he had an atta

it was nervou

just s

ate loo

lk all the way home yest

heard

nk it wa

ts. Whatever he thinks, whatever he says, must be right. You, as a layman

were, and that one of them was Mr. Harding's guest, the other his curate-that on

or ruling, for having all men under one's feet as it were. If men would only listen, take adv

g. "But do you mean that a rector should depend on h

t rank in the hierarchy a man has, but what, and how, does he see? A street boy may perceive a trut

at the curate's excitement,

y!" continued Chichester, almost as if talki

alling, and almos

ng on with all tho

en spend some of it in that sort o

search work, and indeed he seldom ment

s right?" said Chi

ig

sh one's way int

I shouldn't do it," retort

ter, leaning forward, and dropping his

do you

ves-for it is indulgence-in investigations, in attempts

alling felt impatient w

che

e them with a field to till?" he said, with a hint of sarcasm. "Wasn't the fact that the earth revolves round the sun, instead of

r," returned Chichester. "And the Roman Catholic Ch

like me, a disciple of S

iew of suc

clergyman," s

uld not he

doubt it does. But I shall never believe that one of them is to shut your eye

eve that!" Chich

tell me you do

minute without replying. Then he got up,

I shall have to go. Sunday is not a

is watch and

o. I'm taking the

g got

g late?" he s

r was gently opened an

to have kept you waiting. What is it

good-by to Lady Sophia? Or perhaps she is

say good-by to you," said th

to the other and went out of the roo

uch a pleasure to me to renew my acquaintance with y

season,

may meet again s

and in his pocket, and

e to give you

me give y

changed

ry busy," said the cur

ome strong, almost overpowering desire

very modestly, of course. I'm in rooms, in Hornton Street-do you know

e delighte

he

are kind eno

nfortunate, I have such a quantity of parish

week, wit

f after

suit me p

reatly obliged to you if you won't mention to

said Mr. Harding, coming i

d by th

Chichester, and went to s

hut the drawi

he said. "Well, M

you want

ession of

stopped on

nd him muc

rugged his

ve become rather firmer in ma

re decisive

ing-as he has done, I understand, unde

caught something of my manner and w

alling. "He's developed, no doubt. But very fe

or. "I train a man

there was a

oice of Lady Sophia. "I was lying down

rd, as the sunshine fell upon

at once and she did not

shook hands. "Perhaps on another Sunday morn

Malling understand that she did not wish him to come to

rector stood, bareheaded, looking after him, then, as Malling turned the corner of the gardens, with a heavy sigh, and