equally,--if she could only believe in Calvin
or in St. Francis. She had tried to believe in the Duke of Omnium,
but there she had failed. There had been a saint at whose shrine she
thought she could have worshipped with a constant and happy devotion,
but that saint had repulsed her from his altar.

Mr. Maule, Senior, not understanding much of all this, but still
understanding something, thought that he might perhaps be the
saint. He knew well that audacity in asking is a great merit in a
middle-aged wooer. He was a good deal older than the lady, who, in
spite of all her experiences, was hardly yet thirty. But then he
was,--he felt sure,--very young for his age, whereas she was old.
She was a widow; he was a widower. She had a house in town and an
income. He had a place in the country and an estate. She knew all the
dukes and duchesses, and he was a man of family. She could make him
comfortably opulent. He could make her Mrs. Maule of Maule Abbey.
She, no doubt, was good-looking. Mr. Maule, Senior, as he tied on
his cravat, thought that even in that respect there was no great
disparity between them. Considering his own age, Mr. Maule, Senior,
thought there was not perhaps a better-looking man than himself about
Pall Mall. He was a little stiff in the joints and moved rather
slowly, but what was wanting in suppleness was certainly made up in
dignity.

He watched his opportunity, and called in Park Lane on the day after
Madame Goesler's return. There was already between them an amount of
acquaintance which justified his calling, and, perhaps, there had
been on the lady's part something of that cordiality of manner which
is wont to lead to intimate friendship. Mr. Maule had made himself
agreeable, and Madame Goesler had seemed to be grateful. He was
admitted, and on such an occasion it was impossible not to begin the
conversation about the "dear Duke." Mr. Maule could afford to talk
about the Duke, and to lay aside for a short time his own cause,
as he had not suggested to himself the possibility of becoming
pressingly tender on his own behalf on this particular occasion.
Audacity in wooing is a great virtue, but a man must measure even his
virtues. "I heard that you had gone to Matching, as soon as the poor
Duke was taken ill," he said.

She was in mourning, and had never for a moment thought of denying
the peculiarity of the position she had held in reference to the old
man. She could not have been content to wear h