nt you speak of, I should like to be fully informed on the
point.'

'To what rumours does your lordship refer?' asked Miss Whichello, very
pale-faced, but very quiet.

'This is neither the time nor place to inform you,' said the bishop,
hastily; 'I see Mr Cargrim advancing. On another occasion, Miss
Whichello, we shall talk about the matter.'

As the chaplain, with three of four young ladies, including Miss
Norsham, was bearing down on the bishop, Miss Whichello recognised the
justice of his speech, and not feeling equal to talk frivolity, she
hastily retreated and ran into the house to fight down her emotion. What
the poor little woman felt was known only to herself; but she foresaw
that the course of true love, so far as it concerned George and Mab, was
not likely to run smooth. Still, she put a brave face on it and hoped
for the best.

In the meantime, Bishop Pendle was enveloped in a whirl of petticoats,
as Cargrim's Amazonian escort, prompted by the chaplain, was insisting
that he should have his fortune told by Mother Jael. The bishop looked
perturbed on hearing that his red-cloaked phantom was so close at hand,
but he managed to keep his countenance, and laughingly refused to comply
with the demand of the ladies.

'Think of what the newspapers would say,' he urged, 'if a bishop were to
consult this Witch of Endor.'

'Oh, but really, it is only a joke!'

'A dignitary of the Church shouldn't joke, Miss Norsham.'

'Why not, your lordship?' put in Cargrim, amiably. 'I have heard that
Richelieu played with a kitten.'

'I am not Richelieu,' replied Dr Pendle, drily, 'nor is Mother Jael a
kitten.'

'It's for a charity, bishop,' said Daisy, imploringly. 'I pay Mother
Jael for the day, and give the rest to Mrs Pansey's Home for servants
out of work.'

'Oh, for a charity,' repeated Dr Pendle, smiling; 'that puts quite a
different complexion on the question. What do you say, Mr Cargrim?'

'I don't think that your lordship can refuse the prayer of these
charming young ladies,' replied the chaplain, obsequiously.

Now, the bishop really wished to see Mother Jael in order to learn why
she haunted him so persistently; and as she had always vanished
heretofore, he thought that the present would be a very good time to
catch her. He therefore humoured the joke of fortune-telling for his own
satisfaction, and explained as much to the expectant company.

'Well, well, young ladies,' said he, good-naturedly, 'I suppo