e sun, and some things over it; they read
the same books and compared notes afterward; they went out sketching
together, and instructed each other in the ways of art; and they
carefully examined the foundations of each other's beliefs, and
endeavoured respectively to strengthen and undermine the same. Gradually
they fell into the habit of wondering every morning whether or not they
should meet during the coming day; and of congratulating themselves
nearly every evening that they had succeeded in so meeting.

As for Christopher, he was extremely and increasingly unhappy, and, it
must be admitted, extremely and increasingly cross in consequence. The
fact that he had not the slightest right to control Elisabeth's actions,
in no way prevented him from highly disapproving of them; and the fact
that he was too proud to express this disapproval in words, in no way
prevented him from displaying it in manner. Elisabeth was wonderfully
amiable with him, considering how very cross he was; but are we not all
amiable with people toward whom we--in our inner consciousness--know
that we are behaving badly?

"I can not make out what you can see in that conceited ass?" he said to
her, when Alan Tremaine had been living at the Moat House for something
over a year.

"Perhaps not; making things out never is your strong point," replied
Elisabeth suavely.

"But he is such an ass! I'm sure the other evening, when he trotted out
his views on the Higher Criticism for your benefit, he made me feel
positively ill."

"I found it very interesting; and if, as you say, he did it for my
benefit, he certainly succeeded in his aim." There were limits to the
patience of Elisabeth.

"Well, how women can listen to bosh of that kind I can not imagine! What
can it matter to you what he disbelieves or why he disbelieves it? And
it is beastly cheek of him to suppose that it can."

"But he is right in supposing it, and it does matter to me. I like to
know how old-fashioned truths accord or do not accord with modern phases
of thought."

"Modern phases of nonsense, you mean! Well, the old-fashioned truths are
good enough for me, and I'll stick to them, if you please, in spite of
Mr. Tremaine's overwhelming arguments; and I should advise you to stick
to them, too."

"Oh! Chris, I wish you wouldn't be so disagreeable." And Elisabeth
sighed. "It is so difficult to talk to you when you are like this."

"I'm not disagreeable," replied Christopher mendacio