Harry
could stand.

"I'm sorry for you, Flood," said he, when, three days later, Parson Jack
appeared at Carwithiel to resign his living. "But you've taken the only
proper course. Otherwise, you'd have driven us to an inquiry,
sequestration, no end of a scandal. I've had to keep my eyes shut once
or twice in the past, as you probably guess."

"You have shown me all the kindness you could," answered Parson Jack.
"I won't disgust you with thanks, and there are no excuses." He picked
up his hat and turned to go.

"Well, but look here; don't be in a hurry. What about your prospects?
They're none too healthy, I'm afraid. Still, if a few pounds could give
you a fresh start somewhere--"

"I have no prospects, but for the moment I wasn't thinking of myself.
I was thinking of Langona and the old church."

"Oh, the church is all right! Clem--my nephew--has a fad in his head.
He asked me yesterday for the living--in case you resigned. I tell him
it's folly; a youngster oughtn't to play with his chances. But he
insists that it will do him good to fling up Oxford and play
parish-priest for a year or two. He has taken a fancy to your church,
and wants to restore it. He can pay for his whims: the money's all in
his branch of the family."

"Restore it! The church--restored!"

Sir Harry looked up sharply, for the words came in a whisper of awe,
almost of terror; and looking up, he saw Parson Jack's eyes dilated as a
man's who stares on a vision; but while they stared there grew in them a
slow, beatific surmise.

"The Lord taketh away," said Parson Jack. "Blessed be the name of the
Lord!"

Six weeks later the Rev. Clement Vyell was inducted into the living of
Langona, vacant by the resignation of the Rev. John Flood. His first
sermon announced that the church was to be restored without delay; that
plans were even now being prepared by an eminent architect, and that, as
soon as they arrived and were approved, tenders would be invited.

Mr. Vyell was in no hurry to take possession of the Parsonage; indeed,
bachelor though he was, and professed ascetic, he decided that, to be
habitable, it needed a wing and a new kitchen at the back. For the
present he accepted his uncle's invitation to use the hospitality, and
the library, of Carwithiel. Parson Jack might give up possession at his
own convenience. Nevertheless he gave it up at once, packed his few
belongings, and hired a bedroom at the Widow Copping's. It ap