ng to different schools of criticism. He was devoted to
your mother."

Constance assented dumbly.

"And shows already"--thought the Master--"some dangerous signs of being
devoted to you. Poor wretch!" Aloud he said--"Ah, here they come. I must
get some more chairs."

The drawing-room party joined them, and the gathering lasted a little
longer. Sorell walked up and down with Constance. She liked him
increasingly--could not help liking him. And apart from his personal
charm, he recalled all sorts of pleasant things and touching memories to
her. But he was almost oppressively refined and scrupulous and
high-minded. "He is too perfect!" she thought rebelliously. "One can't
be as good as that. It isn't allowed."

As to Mrs. Mulholland, Constance felt herself taken possession
of--mothered--by that lady. She could not understand why, but though
rather puzzled and bewildered, she did not resist. There was something,
indeed, in the generous dark eyes that every now and then touched the
girl's feeling intolerably, as though it reminded her of a tenderness
she had been long schooling herself to do without.

"Come and see me, my dear, whenever you like. I have a house in St.
Giles, and all my husband's books. I do a lot of things--I am a
guardian--I work at the schools--the town schools for the town children,
et cetera. We all try to save our souls by committees nowadays. But my
real business is to talk, and make other people talk. So I am always at
home in the evenings after dinner, and a good many people come. Bring
Nora sometimes. Alice doesn't like me. Your aunt will let you
come--though we don't know each other very well. I am very respectable."

The laughing face looked into Constance's, which laughed back.

"That's all right!" said Mrs. Mulholland, as though some confidences had
been exchanged between them. "You might find me useful. Consider me a
friend of the family. I make rather a good umbrella-stand. People can
lean against me if they like. I hold firm. Good-bye. That's the
Cathedral bell."

But Constance and Sorell, followed discreetly by Annette, departed
first. Mrs. Mulholland stayed for a final word to the Master, before
obeying the silver voice from St. Frideswide's tower.

"To think of that girl being handed over to Ellen Hooper, just when all
her love affairs will be coming on! A woman with the wisdom of a rabbit,
and the feelings of a mule! And don't hold your finger up at me,
Master! You know you can