however, that you will add to the many kindnesses for which I have to thank you by remaining here a few days and winding matters up for me. I have written to Mr. Linklater, who, I presume, will run down to confer with you and with my uncle. I really do not think that I shall give extra trouble to anybody by taking to my heels in this unannounced fashion, and I hope that neither you nor any other of the friends in these parts whom I shall see no more will set me down as ungrateful because I shrink from the trial of bidding you all farewell."

It is asserted by those who should be capable of judging that one of the surest signs of a vocation is the facility with which the religious aspirant can break with earthly relations, friends and ties. If this be so, Nigel Scarth had good reason for the confidence that he felt in himself. Not only without a pang, but with a sense of infinite assuagement did he give orders, on the following morning, for his portmanteau to be packed and for a dogcart to be brought round to take him to the station. He had been called away, he explained, and could not name a time for his return; but Mr. Trenchard, for whom he had left a note, would probably remain a day or two at the Castle and would give such instructions with regard to household matters as might be required. No; he did not wish letters to be forwarded, and it was therefore unnecessary for him to leave any address.

Thus quietly and readily did Nigel shake off fetters by which it is safe to say that he would never have been bound, had the late Mr. Thomas Scarth realised the difference between leading a horse to the water and making him drink. The late Mr. Thomas Scarth, a man who seldom cared or tried to realise the unpalatable, had desired in the first place to disappoint his

brother by his will, which amiable object of his had been tolerably well fulfilled; but he had fallen into the mistake of imagining that he could convert his unknown nephew into a sound Protestant by the exhibition of a powerful bait, and if he could have witnessed the said nephew's light-hearted renunciation of money and lands for an idea, he might have turned uneasily in the family vault. Likewise he might have regretted having committed to Robert-just by way of a spiteful little parting dig-powers which were not very likely to be exercised with wisdom or discrimination.

Those powers, Nigel hoped and believed, would be exercised in favour of Cuthbert Gretton; but in truth he gave little thought to his successor or to what he was leaving behind him during a tedious cross-country journey which occupied the whole day. Already a great gulf, which he was conscious of no desire to bridge, yawned between him and the past. He was Nigel Scarth no longer; soon he would be Brother Anselm once more, and in process of time, he trusted, Father Anselm. For the Lord Abbot, on the occasion of his recent visit to the monastery, had been very kind and sympathetic, had rebuked him but gently for the sins to which he had pleaded guilty and, though guarded in his remarks, had seemed to foresee what was coming. "You are nearer to us now, my son," he had said, “than you were when you lived amongst us."

The sun had set in a mild, moist atmosphere ere Nigel reached his far western destination and was admitted to the little bare parlour in which he had once received the disturbing news that he had inherited a fortune. But the thin, shrivelled old man who presently joined him there, and before whom he fell on his knees, was a very different person from the impassive Abbot who had refused him all help on that momentous day,

and it was a tender and compassionate voice that said to him:

"I have been expecting you, my son-expectans, expectavi! I thank God that my prayers for you have been heard."

"You think that I have a vocation, in spite of all?" Nigel faltered.

"I have never doubted it," answered the other tranquilly; "but it was necessary for you to be convinced and it was necessary that you should obey. I can encourage you now; I could not have encouraged you a year ago. You are afraid perhaps that you have come back to us because the world has disappointed you and because you have a quarrel with it. No; if that had been so, you would have reverted to profligacy, not to the better life. Examine yourself more closely and you will find that your heart has been with us all along. Have no fear; only believe, only obey, and the power which has guided you home will lead you on from strength to strength."

It seems likely enough that the Abbot, who had studied many novices, knew what he was talking about. It was, at any rate, noticeable that he made no inquiry as to whether this repentant prodigal had brought back any sheaves to the Abbey with him or only empty husks. At a later date Mr. Linklater observed that, to give the old fellow his due, he was disinterested, if somewhat dull and reticent; but the Abbot had nothing particular to say to Mr. Linklater, and the rules of his Order enjoin economy of needless words. To Brother Anselm he had, on that first evening, a good deal to say-so much, indeed, that the subject with which he dealt was disposed of finally then and there.

CHAPTER XXI

THE CAPRICES OF FORTUNE

NOT many people can boast of being good losers,

nor amongst the few who are do women form a majority. It was therefore to Ethel Dallison's credit that she was able, on her return to Lannowe, to exhibit a serene exterior and to declare, in answer to inquiries, that she had enjoyed her little visit to the Robert Scarths immensely.

“It all went off as well as possible," she told Monica; "the only person who didn't seem entirely happy was Mr. Gretton, and if he isn't happy by this time, he will be soon. You must have noticed, of course, that he is desperately smitten with his cousin, who diverted herself by holding him at arm's length. That sort of thing is rather vieux jeu, but I daresay it is still considered effective in country neighbourhoods, and she won't keep it up much longer. I took the liberty of recommending him to be bold. Isn't it amazing that such advice should be necessary! Still, one likes him all the better for being diffident, poor fellow!"

The good-natured tolerant smile upon the speaker's lips gave no hint of the rage and mortification that were in her heart. It was perhaps well for her that she was angry, inasmuch as wrath helped her to bear the heaviest and most unexpected blow that had ever fallen upon her in her life; but it did not seem likely to prove quite

so well for those upon whom she was resolved to be avenged. Not that she used the word revenge to herself or deemed them worthy of a sentiment somewhat beneath her; only she really could not allow them to acquire without an effort what she had too hastily refused; she really could not submit to be not only disdained but robbed. Consequently Nigel must be whistled back-nothing would be simpler !-and should a so-called change of faith be required of one who had no faith at all, the change would have to take place. Rixmouth valait bien une messe. Meanwhile, she heard with affectionate and sympathetic interest the news which Monica had to impart to her.

"This is what I have always hoped for," she declared, "and I have always liked Colonel Gervase, although I know he doesn't like me. You will be perfectly happy with him."

In the name of her absent Ned, Monica protested against the lack of discrimination imputed to him; but Ethel, laughing goodhumouredly, repeated:

"Oh, he doesn't like me; he doesn't believe in me. After all, it isn't necessary that he should. So long as you continue to be my friend and to give me credit for honest intentions I am satisfied."

She foresaw that Monica's friendship would be useful, if not essential, to her; she foresaw that Monsignor Nolan might be capable of doubting the honesty of her intentions and of raising difficulties with regard to her reception into the Church of Rome; what she did not foresee was the danger of Nigel's slipping through her fingers before she should have time to hoist a signal of recall for his benefit. For one moment she contemplated writing him a note, but decided against tactics so crude and so superfluous. "I have had enough of making offers of marriage to last me my life!" said she to herself,

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