I
shan't go bound, and I'll fight for it. I should enjoy that."

And she was able to accord him the smile of encouragement he expected.

"I am sure you would," she replied. "I think you might have waited until
this afternoon and taken me," she reproached him. "You know how I enjoy
going with you to those places."

It was not until later in the meal that he anticipated, in an admirably
accidental manner, the casual remark she had intended to make about
church.

"Your predictions were fulfilled," she answered; "the sermon wasn't
thrilling."

He glanced at her. And instead of avoiding his eyes, she smiled into
them.

"Did you see the First Citizen of Grenoble?" he inquired.

"I am sure of it," she laughed, "if he's yellow, with a drooping eye and
a presence; he was kind enough to conduct me to the pew."

"Yes," he exclaimed, "that's Israel Simpson--you couldn't miss him. How
I used to hate him when I was a boy! I haven't quite got over it yet. I
used to outdo myself to make things uncomfortable for him when he came
up here--I think it was because he always seemed to be truckling. He
was ridiculously servile and polite in those days. He's changed since,"
added Hugh, dryly. "He must quite have forgotten by this time that the
General made him."

"Is--is he so much?" said Honora.

Her husband laughed.

"Is it possible that you have seen him and still ask that?" said he.
"He is Grenoble. Once the Chilterns were. He is the head of the honoured
firm of Israel Simpson and Sons, the president of the Grenoble National
Bank, the senior warden of the church, a director in the railway. Twice
a year, in the columns of the New York newspapers dedicated to the
prominent arrivals at the hotels, you may read the name of Israel
Simpson of Grenoble. Three times has he been abroad, respectably
accompanied by Maria, who invariably returns to read a paper on the
cathedrals and art before the Woman's Club."

"Maria is his wife, I suppose."

"Yes. Didn't you run across Maria? She's quite as pronounced, in her
way, as Israel. A very tower of virtue."

"I didn't meet anybody, Hugh," said Honora. "I'll--I'll look for her
next Sunday. I hurried out. It was a little embarrassing the first
time," she added, "your family being so prominent in Grenoble."

Upon this framework, the prominence of his family, she built up during
the coning week a new structure of hope. It was strange she had never
thought before of this quite obvious expl