ense of the necessity for apologising;--and yet he
remembered well the impudence of the man, how he had ventured to
allude to the Ladies Stowte, likening them to--to--to--! It was
terrible to be thought of. And his lordship remembered, too, how
this man had written about the principal entrance to his own mansion
as though it had been no more than the entrance to any other man's
house! Though the thorns still rankled in his own flesh, he had to
own that he himself had been wrong.

And he did it,--with an honesty that was beyond the reach of his much
more clever son. When the Fenwicks arrived, they were taken into the
drawing-room, in which were sitting the Ladies Sophie and Carolina
with various guests already assembled at the Castle. In a minute or
two the Marquis shuffled in and shook hands with the two new comers.
Then he shuffled about the room for another minute or two, and at
last got his arm through that of the Vicar, and led him away into his
own sanctum. "Mr. Fenwick," he said, "I think it best to express my
regret at once for two things that have occurred."

[Illustration: The drawing-room at Turnover Castle.]

"It does not signify, my lord."

"But it does signify to me, and if you will listen to me for a moment
I shall take your doing so as a favour added to that which you have
conferred upon me in coming here." The Vicar could only bow and
listen. "I am sorry, Mr. Fenwick, that I should have written to the
bishop of this diocese in reference to your conduct." Fenwick found
it very difficult to hold his tongue when this was said. He imagined
that the Marquis was going to excuse himself about the chapel,--and
about the chapel he cared nothing at all. But as to that letter to
the bishop, he did feel that the less said about it the better. He
restrained himself, however, and the Marquis went on. "Things had
been told me, Mr. Fenwick;--and I thought that I was doing my duty."

"It did me no harm, my lord."

"I believe not. I had been misinformed,--and I apologise." The
Marquis paused, and the Vicar bowed. It is probable that the Vicar
did not at all know how deep at that moment were the sufferings of
the Marquis. "And now as to the chapel," continued the Marquis.

"My lord, that is such a trifle that you must let me say that it is
not and has not been of the slightest consequence."

"I was misled as to that bit of ground."

"I only wish, my lord, that the chapel could stand there."

"That is imposs