nside the shelter of their own trees, husband and wife turned
instinctively and caught each other's hands. A low groan broke from
Elsmere's lips; Catherine looked at him one moment, then fell weeping on
his breast. The first chapter of their common life was closed.

* * * * *

One thing more, however, of a private nature, remained for Elsmere to
do. Late in the afternoon he walked over to the Hall.

He found the squire in the inner library, among his German books, his
pipe in his mouth, his old smoking coat and slippers bearing witness to
the rapidity and joy with which he had shut the world out again after
the futilities of the morning. His mood was more accessible than Elsmere
had yet found it since his return.

'Well, have you done with all those tomfooleries, Elsmere? Precious
eloquent speech you made! When I see you and people like you throwing
yourselves at the heads of the people, I always think of Scaliger's
remark about the Basques: "They say they understand one another--_I
don't believe a word of it!_" All that the lower class _wants_ to
understand, at any rate, is the shortest way to the pockets of you and
me; all that you and I need understand, according to me, is how to keep
'em off! There you have the sum and substance of _my_ political
philosophy.'

'You remind me,' said Robert drily, sitting down on one of the library
stools, 'of some of those sentiments you expressed so forcibly on the
first evening of our acquaintance.'

The squire received the shaft with equanimity.

'I was not amiable, I remember, on that occasion,' he said coolly, his
thin, old man's fingers moving the while among the shelves of books,
'nor on several subsequent ones. I had been made a fool of, and you were
not particularly adroit. But of course you won't acknowledge it. Who
ever yet got a parson to confess himself!'

'Strangely enough, Mr. Wendover,' said Robert, fixing him with a pair
of deliberate feverish eyes, 'I am here at this moment for that very
purpose.'

'Go on,' said the squire, turning, however, to meet the rector's look,
his gold spectacles falling forward over his long hooked nose, his
attitude one of sudden attention. 'Go on.'

All his grievances against Elsmere returned to him. He stood
aggressively waiting.

Robert paused a moment, and then said abruptly--

'Perhaps even you will agree, Mr. Wendover, that I had some reason for
sentiment this morning. Unless I read the l