eyond that one exclamation of Egremont's, which Annabel hardly
appeared to notice. Neither desired to prolong the conversation. Yet
neither had ever more desired heart-sympathy than now.

Annabel said to herself: 'It is over.' She was spared anxious
self-searching. The currents of their lives were slowly but surely
carrying them apart from each other. When she came into the
drawing-room to offer tea, her face was brighter, as if she had
experienced some relief.

Mrs. Ormonde had not seen Egremont for some six weeks. The tone of the
one or two letters she had received from him did not reassure her
against misgivings excited at his latest visit. To her he wrote far
more truly than to Mr. Newthorpe, and she knew, what the others did
not, that he was anything but satisfied with the course he had taken
since Christmas in his lecturing. 'After Easter,' was her advice,
'return to your plain instruction. It is more fruitful of profit both
to your hearers and to yourself.' But Egremont had begun to doubt
whether after Easter he should lecture at all.

'Mr. Bunce's little girl is coming to me again,' she said, in the talk
before dinner. 'You know the poor little thing has been in hospital for
three weeks?'

'I haven't heard of it,' Egremont replied. 'I'm sorry that I haven't
really come to know Bunce. I had a short talk with him a month ago, and
he told me then that his children were well. But he is so reticent that
I have feared to try further, to get his confidence.'

'Why, Bunce is the aggressive atheist, isn't he?' said Mr. Newthorpe.

Mrs. Ormonde smiled and nodded.

'I fear he is a man of misfortunes,' she said. 'My friend at the
hospital tells me that his wife was small comfort to him whilst she
lived. She left him three young children to look after, and the eldest
of them--she is about nine--is always ill. There seems to be no one to
tend them whilst their father is at work.'

'Who will bring the child here?' Egremont asked.

'She came by herself last time. But I hear she is still very weak;
perhaps someone will have to be sent from the hospital.'

During dinner, the library was discussed. Egremont reported that
workmen were already busy in the school-rooms and in Grail's house.

'I'm in correspondence,' he said, 'with a man I knew some years ago, a
scientific fellow, who has heard somehow of my undertakings, and wrote
asking if he might help by means of natural science. Perhaps it might
be well to begin a co