"I have."

"And do you believe in them?"

"I'm afraid I must ask you to be a little more definite."

"Do you believe that there are such things as doubles?"

"I have no reason to believe that there are, unless you include wrongly
in the term the merely physical replica. It appears to be established
that now and then two human beings are born who, throughout their
respective lives remain physically so much alike that it is difficult,
if not impossible, to distinguish between them."

"I didn't mean only that," she said quickly.

"You meant the double in mind and soul as well as in body," said
Chichester.

"Yes."

"How can one see if a soul is the double of another soul?" said Malling.

"Then you think such a story as Mr. Chichester related in his sermon all
nonsense?" said Lady Sophia, almost hotly, and yet, it seemed to Malling,
with a slight lifting of the countenance, as if relief perhaps were
stealing through her.

"I thought it a legitimate and powerful invention introduced to point a
moral."

"Nothing more than that?" said Lady Sophia.

Malling did not reply; for suddenly a strange question had risen up in
him. Did he really think it nothing more than that? He glanced at
Chichester, and the curate's eyes seemed asking him to say.

The rector's heavy and powerful frame shifted in his chair, and his voice
was heard saying:

"My dear Sophy, I think you had better leave such things alone. You do
not know where they might lead you."

There was in his voice a sound of forced authority, as if he had been
obliged to "screw himself up" to speak as he had just spoken. Lady Sophia
was about to make a quick rejoinder when, still with a forced air of
resolution, Mr. Harding addressed himself to Chichester.

"Since I saw you this morning," he said, "I find that I shall not be here
next Sunday."

He looked about the circle at his wife and Malling.

"The doctor has ordered me away for a week, and I've decided to go."

His introduction of the subject had been abrupt. As if almost in despite
of themselves, Lady Sophia and Malling exchanged glances. Chichester
said nothing.

"You can get on without me quite well, of course," continued the rector.

"Are you going to be away long?" said Chichester.

"No; I think only for a week or so. The doctor says I absolutely need a
breath of fresh air."

Malling got up to go.

"I hope you'll enjoy your little holiday," he said. "Are you going far?"

"Oh, dear, no