The Bishop's Secret

tle sigh, 'I fear you are right ab

of a Jesuit. Of late-as Cargrim knew by a steady use of his pale blue eyes-the curate had been visiting The Derby Winner, ostensibly on parochial business connected with the ill-health of Mrs Mosk, the landlord's wife. But there was a hands

er is a nest of hawks. William Mosk would have disgraced heathen Rome in its worst day

ed young lady,' said Gabriel

r fan; 'and since when have brazen, pai

o her sick mother,' prot

ome redeeming qualities. Rubbish! humbug! do

out of Nazare

ou the son of a bishop-the curate of a parish! Remember what is to be the p

Pansey, you know Mr Pend

in this young person, Mr Pendle. She is one who tires her head and paints

ng woman. I do not defend the father, but I hope to bring him to a sense of his errors in time. There is a charity which thinketh no evil, Mrs Pansey,' and with great heat Gabriel, forgetting his manners, walked off withou

s Pansey. The natural chivalry of

sey, in low tones. 'I fear very much that the misguided young man has fallen into

s quite enough for Mrs Pansey; she scented evil like a social vulture, and taking Cargrim's arm drag

was old and wizen, but he was unmarried and rich, so Miss Norsham thought it might be worth her while to play Vivien to this clerical Merlin. His weak point,-speedily discovere

called B?orhmynster, "the church of the hill," for, as you can see, my dear young lady, our cathedral is built on the top of a considerable rise, and thence gained its name. The townsfolk were formerly vassals

d the fair Daisy, to show the quickness of her un

mitre are the symbols of their high office. But the Romish abbots o

ing a yawn. 'And the name of the river, dear Mr Dea

we now erroneously call it-Beorflete, means, in the vulgar tongue, the flood or stream of the hill. Even in Normandy the word fleot has been corru

rotesting that she was not tired but hungry, and suggested that Dr Alder should continue his instructive conversation at supper. Mollified by this dexterous evasion, which he saw no reason to disbelieve, the dean politely escorted his companion to the regions of champagne and chicken, both of which aided the lady to sustain further

stood near at hand talking to her lover. Both ladies were dressed in white silk, with few ornaments, and looked more like sisters than mother and daughter. Certainly Mrs Pendle appeared surprisingly young to be the parent of a grown-up family, but her continuance of youth was not due to art, as Mrs Pansey averred, but to the quiet and undisturbed life which her frail health compelled her to lead. The bishop was tenderly attached to her, and even at this late s

t voice, smiling gently on her younger and fav

ished all necessary information, sat down near his mother and

l more; and with a slight shrug cast an amused look at Lucy, who

an!' said Br

osed Lucy, with an anxiou

sent company I would say

is stiff collar with one finger; 'my cloth

been doing n

to have The Derby Win

ted Mrs Pendle, in puzzle

ing the wife of the landlord, who is very ill. Mrs Pansey wants the house c

id Sir Harry, bluffly, 'and it sha'n'

rs Panseys,' murmur

Mrs Pansey is the sole specimen of her kind. Nature broke

nsey might hear. Come with me, dear. I must look

sigh. 'Thank you, Lucy, I willingly make you m

d,' observed Harry B

r,' whispered Lucy, in alarm. 'Ta

of how she lost her purse at t

than mother can. Besides, she'll

ve story about a lost purse, but hitherto had never succeeded in getting to the point, if there was one. Accepting the suggestion of supper with

. Behind a floral screen a band of musicians, who called themselves the Yellow Hungarians, and individually possessed the most unpronounceable names, played the last waltz, a smooth, swinging melody which made the younger guests long for a dance. In fact, the callow lieutenant boldly suggested that a waltz should be attempted, with himself and Lucy to set the example; but his companion snubbed him unmercifully for his boldness, and afterwards restored his spirits

who was the aunt of Mab Arden, the beloved of George Pendle. Mab was with her, and, gracious and tall, looked as majestic as any queen, as she paced in her stately manner by the old lady's side. Her beauty was that of Juno, for she was imperial and a trifle haughty in her manner. With dark hair, dark eyes, and dark

how are you both? Tired, Mrs Pendle? Of course, what else can you expect with

icts that assertion,' said

duty. I came because

indly, for she knew how things were between her eldest so

ve, contralto voice, and with a blush; 'he told me th

in moderate quantities. My dear Mrs Pendle, if you only saw those people in the supper-room!

per, Miss Whichel

isky and water; quite enough, too. Mab her

, aunt; don't take

l finish the bottle for the harm it does you. Cham

nd let us poison ourselve

re too pale, and champagne, in your case, would pick you up. Iron and slight

ietitian, Mis

meaning of the word illness. In a good hour be it spoken,' added Miss Whichello, think

lf rising. 'He was perfectly well when I

in the library,

y. 'I will see my father. Don't rise

is life. He saw by the demeanour of the guests that the indisposition of their host was known, for already an uneasy feeling prevailed, and severa

id the chaplain, quickly. 'Dr

dden illnes

e anyone but the doctor. He won't even ad

d it?' asked Ga

ome stranger who departed ten minutes ago. Then he sent for Dr Grah