feel surprised at being approached
so crudely on the subject. With a testy gesture he pushed back his chair
and looked rather frowningly on the presumptuous parson. But Cargrim was
too sure of his ability to deal with the bishop to be daunted by looks,
and with his sleek head on one side and a suave smile on his pale lips,
he waited for the thunders from the episcopalian throne. However, the
bishop was just as diplomatic as his chaplain, and too wise to give way
to the temper he felt at so downright a request, approached the matter
in an outwardly mild spirit.

'Heathcroft is a large parish,' said his lordship, meditatively.

'And therefore needs a hard-working young rector, replied Cargrim. 'I
am, of course, aware of my own deficiencies, but these may be remedied
by prayer and by a humble spirit.'

'Mr Cargrim,' said the bishop, with a smile, 'do you remember the rather
heterodox story of the farmer's comment on prayer being offered up for
rain? "What is the use of praying for rain," said he, "when the wind is
in this quarter?" I am inclined,' added Dr Pendle, looking very intently
at Cargrim, 'to agree with the farmer.'

'Does that mean that your lordship will not give me the living?'

'We will come to that later, Mr Cargrim. At present I mean that no
prayers will remedy our deficiencies unless the desire to do so begins
in our own breasts.'

'Will your lordship indicate the particular deficiencies I should
remedy?' asked the chaplain, outwardly calm, but inwardly raging.

'I think, Mr Cargrim,' said the bishop, gently, 'that your ambition is
apt to take precedence of your religious feelings, else you would hardly
adopt so extreme a course as to ask me so bluntly for a living. If I
deemed it advisable that you should be rector of Heathcroft, I should
bestow it on you without the necessity of your asking me to give it to
you; but to be plain with you, Mr Cargrim, I have other designs when the
living becomes vacant.'

'In that case, we need say no more, your lordship.'

'Pardon me, you must permit me to say this much,' said Dr Pendle, in his
most stately manner, 'that I desire you to continue in your present
position until you have more experience in diocesan work. It is not
every young man, Mr Cargrim, who has so excellent an opportunity of
acquainting himself with the internal management of the Catholic Church.
Your father was a dear friend of mine,' continued the bishop, with
emotion, 'and in my younger da