what is authorised, in giving such a distinct,
powerful, and prominent individuality to Satan. You will remember that
in the great celestial battle--

"'Long time in even scale
The battle hung.'

But what a wonderful conception that is of the great antagonist of God!
It comes out even more strongly in the 'Paradise Regained.' Is it not a
relief to think that the evil thought in you or me is not altogether
yours and mine, but is foreign; that it is an incident in the war of
wars, an attack on one of the soldiers of the Most High?"

Mr. Cardew paused.

"Have you never written anything which I could read?"

"Scarcely anything. I wrote some time ago a little story of a few pages,
but it was never published. I will lend you the manuscript, but you will
please remember that it is anonymous, and that I do not wish the
authorship revealed. I believe most people would not think any the
better of me, certainly as a clergyman, if they knew it was mine."

"That is very kind of you."

Catharine felt the distinction, the confidence. The sweetest homage
which can be offered us is to be entrusted with something which others
would misinterpret.

"I should like, Miss Furze, to have some further talk with you about
Milton, but I do not quite see" (musingly) "how it is to be managed."

"Could you not tell us something about him when you and Mrs. Cardew next
have tea with us at the Limes?"

"I do not think so. I meant with you, yourself. It is not easy for me
to express myself clearly in company--at any rate, I should not hear your
difficulties. You seem to possess a sympathy which is unusual, and I
should be glad to know more of your mind."

"When Mrs. Cardew comes here, could you not fetch her, and could we not
sit out here together?"

He hesitated. They were walking slowly over the grass towards the gate,
and were just beginning to turn off to the right by the side path between
the laurels. At that point, the lawn being levelled and raised, there
were two stone steps. In descending them Catharine slipped, and he
caught her arm. She did not fall, but he did not altogether release her
for at least some seconds.

"Mrs. Cardew has no liking for poetry."

Catharine was silent.

"It is quite a new thing to me, Miss Furze, to find anybody in Abchurch
who cares anything for that which is most interesting to me."

"But, Mr. Cardew, I am sure I have not shown any particular capacity, and
I am very igno