it
grows, instead of diminishing, by the dispersion.'

'It is a beautiful imagination.'

'But, oh, how miserable and tantalising a thought, Miss Lavington,
to those who know that a priceless spirit is near them, which might
be one with theirs through all eternity, like twin stars in one
common atmosphere, for ever giving and receiving wisdom and might,
beauty and bliss, and yet are barred from their bliss by some
invisible adamantine wall, against which they must beat themselves
to death, like butterflies against the window-pane, gazing, and
longing, and unable to guess why they are forbidden to enjoy!'

Why did Argemone withdraw her arm from his? He knew, and he felt
that she was entrusted to him. He turned away from the subject.

'I wonder whether they are safe home by this time?'

'I hope my father will not catch cold. How sad, Mr. Smith, that he
will swear so. I do not like to say it; and yet you must have heard
him too often yourself.'

'It is hardly a sin with him now, I think. He has become so
habituated to it, that he attaches no meaning or notion whatsoever
to his own oaths. I have heard him do it with a smiling face to the
very beggar to whom he was giving half-a-crown. We must not judge a
man of his school by the standard of our own day.'

'Let us hope so,' said Argemone, sadly.

There was another pause. At a turn of the hill road the black
masses of beech-wood opened, and showed the Priory lights twinkling
right below. Strange that Argemone felt sorry to find herself so
near home.

'We shall go to town next week,' said she; "and then--You are going
to Norway this summer, are you not?'

'No. I have learnt that my duty lies nearer home.'

'What are you going to do?'

'I wish this summer, for the first time in my life, to try and do
some good--to examine a little into the real condition of English
working men.'

'I am afraid, Mr. Smith, that I did not teach you that duty.'

'Oh, you have taught me priceless things! You have taught me beauty
is the sacrament of heaven, and love its gate; that that which is
the most luscious is also the most pure.'

'But I never spoke a word to you on such subjects.'

'There are those, Miss Lavington, to whom a human face can speak
truths too deep for books.'

Argemone was silent; but she understood him. Why did she not
withdraw her arm a second time?

In a moment more the colonel hailed them from the dog-cart and
beh