been worried with much the same story from a totally different
quarter. It was after the ladies had left the dining-room, and the
gossip had been rougher.

He gave all his thoughts to brooding over the matter next day. Mark
could not have managed well--must have done or said something stupid,
and made enemies, he reflected gloomily.

Canon Nicholls had been young once, and almost as popular a preacher as
Mark, and he did not underrate the difficulties. But it was his firm
persuasion that, with tact and common-sense they were by no means
insurmountable. What really distressed the old man was that perhaps Mark
had been right in thinking that he personally could not surmount them.
And it was Canon Nicholls's doing that he was not by this time a novice
in a Carthusian Monastery! Therefore the Canon's soul was heavy with
anxiety as to whether he had made a great mistake.

"He must be a fool, or else it's just possible that he has got an
uncommonly clever enemy." The last thought revived the old man a
little, and he received his tea without any of the demonstrations of
disgust he had shown on drinking his coffee at breakfast.

Presently the subject of his thoughts came upon the scene, and the
visitor saw at once that his old friend was unlike himself. The Canon
was exceedingly alert from the moment Mark came into the room, trying to
catch up the faintest indication, in his voice or movements, as to
whether he were in good or low spirits; he almost thought he heard a
quick sigh as Mark sat down. He could not see that Mark was undeniably
thinner and paler than he had been only a few weeks ago, and that his
eyes looked even more bright and keen in consequence.

"Take some tea," said the Canon; and then, when he had given him time to
drink his tea, he turned on him abruptly.

"I've heard some lies about you, and I'm going to tell you what they
are."

"Perhaps it's better to be ignorant."

"No, it's not, now why did you incite young men to Socialism in South
London?"

"Good heavens!" said Mark. "Well, you shall catch it for that. I will
read you every word of that paper; not a line of anything else shall you
hear till you've been obliged to give your 'nihil obstat' to 'True and
False Socialism,' by your humble servant."

"But that's not the worst that's said of you."

"Oh, no! I know that."

Perhaps if Canon Nicholls could have seen the strained look on the young
face he could have understood. As it was, he believe