e was no home for a quiet prelate in those
days.

At the last moment Mrs Pendle found that she would be wretched if her
bishop did not accompany her some way on the journey; so Dr Pendle went
with the travellers to London, and spent a pleasant day or so, being
hurried about from shop to shop. If he had not been the most angelic
bishop in England he would have revolted; but as he was anxious that his
wife should have no cause of complaint, he exhausted himself with the
utmost amiability. But the longest lane has a turning, and the day came
when Mrs Pendle and Lucy, attended by the dazed Harry, left for Nauheim
_via_ Queenborough, Flushing and Cologne. Mrs Pendle declared, as the
train moved away, that she was thoroughly exhausted, which statement the
bishop quite believed. His wonder was that she and Lucy were not dead
and buried.

On returning to the empty palace, Bishop Pendle settled himself down for
a long rest. Remembering Graham's hint, he saw as little of Cargrim as
was compatible with the relationship of business. The chaplain noted
that he was being avoided, and guessing that someone had placed Dr
Pendle on his guard against him, became more secretive and watchful than
ever. But in spite of all his spying he met with little success, for
although the bishop still continued weary-eyed and worried-looking, he
went about his work with more zest than usual. Indeed, he attended so
closely to the duties of his position that Cargrim fancied he was trying
to forget his wickedness by distracting his mind. But, as usual, the
chaplain had no tangible reason for this belief.

And about this time, when most industrious, the bishop began to be
haunted, not by a ghost, which would have been bearable as ghosts appear
usually only in the nighttime, but by a queer little old woman in a red
cloak, who supported herself with a crutch and looked like a wicked
fairy. This, as the bishop ascertained by a casual question, was Mother
Jael, the gipsy friend of Jentham, and the knowledge of her identity did
not make him the easier in his mind. He could not conceive what she
meant by her constant attendance on him; and but that he believed in the
wisdom of letting sleeping dogs lie, he would have resented her
pertinacity. The sight of her became almost insupportable.

Whether Mother Jael intended to terrify the bishop or not it is hard to
say, but the way in which she followed him tormented him beyond measure.
When he left the palace sh