y is offered you of leaping at once into a leading position in
this part of England. Bishops are given to hospitality; you would be
welcomed everywhere. In short, your answer must be yes.'

'And yet it will be no,' she said, in a low voice. She had at length
learnt, from the tone of her brother's latter remarks, that at any rate
he had no knowledge of her actual marriage, whatever indirect ties he
might suspect her guilty of.

Louis could restrain himself no longer at her answer. 'Then conduct your
affairs your own way. I know you to be leading a life that won't bear
investigation, and I'm hanged if I'll stay here any longer!'

Saying which, Glanville jerked back his chair, and strode out of the
room. In less than a quarter of an hour, and before she had moved a step
from the table, she heard him leaving the house.

XXXII

What to do she could not tell. The step which Swithin had entreated her
to take, objectionable and premature as it had seemed in a county aspect,
would at all events have saved her from this dilemma. Had she allowed
him to tell the Bishop his simple story in its fulness, who could say but
that that divine might have generously bridled his own impulses, entered
into the case with sympathy, and forwarded with zest their designs for
the future, owing to his interest of old in Swithin's father, and in the
naturally attractive features of the young man's career.

A puff of wind from the open window, wafting the Bishop's letter to the
floor, aroused her from her reverie. With a sigh she stooped and picked
it up, glanced at it again; then arose, and with the deliberateness of
inevitable action wrote her reply:--

'WELLAND HOUSE, _June_ 29, 18--.

'MY DEAR BISHOP OF MELCHESTER,--I confess to you that your letter, so
gracious and flattering as it is, has taken your friend somewhat
unawares. The least I can do in return for its contents is to reply
as quickly as possible.

'There is no one in the world who esteems your high qualities more
than myself, or who has greater faith in your ability to adorn the
episcopal seat that you have been called on to fill. But to your
question I can give only one reply, and that is an unqualified
negative. To state this unavoidable decision distresses me, without
affectation; and I trust you will believe that, though I decline the
distinction of becoming your wife, I shall never cease to interest
myself in all t