g of
shovels and the ringing of sleighbells, that usually make such a
pleasant appeal to those within-doors; but the bishop was merely moved
to impatient longing for the spring.

The bright sun filled the study with a garish light reflected from the
snow without, and the bishop pulled down the heavy shades, introducing
thereby an effect of twilight in the room. At the same time the wood
fire in the grate, which had previously seemed pale and thin, took on a
ruddy and cheerful activity, relieved from the overpowering competition
of the sun.

The mayor finally arrived, half an hour behind the time he had
appointed, drawn in his sleigh by the pacer that had stood by him so
gallantly in his race with Anthony Cobbens. He fastened the mare to
the post with careful deliberation, conscious the while that he might
be under inspection from behind the drawn curtains of Felicity's room.
When he entered the bishop's study, it was evident at once that he came
in no very conciliatory mood. The bold glance of his eyes was a trifle
more bold than usual and swept the room rapidly, as if he anticipated
seeing Felicity there. Something of disappointment and resentment
seemed to show itself in his manner, as he took the chair the bishop
indicated; and now he waited, with the instinct of the politician, for
his opponent to show his hand.

The bishop had always hated this man, and never more so than now. In
addition to his special reason for hostility, Emmet's type was one
peculiarly distasteful to him. Just as he had catalogued Leigh as a
Westerner, and had assumed certain characteristics in him, so he had
put Emmet, from the first, into the class of loud-voiced, big-limbed,
heavy-heeled centurions. It made no difference that the mayor showed
marked deviations from the type; there was just enough of the feminine
in his judge to keep him true to his prejudices, and never were they so
nearly justified as now. He saw that he must make a beginning, and did
so with his usual circumspection. His words were carefully selected to
avoid giving offence, but the gist of their meaning was that he waited
for his visitor to give an account of himself.

"I should like to speak in the presence of my wife," Emmet announced
uncompromisingly.

"My daughter will not be present at this interview," the bishop
declared, with marked austerity, "nor at any other interview that may
subsequently become necessary, though I hope we shall come to such a
s