n
follow the way of the world? The thread of destiny for the great city up
the bay lay between the fingers of this sweet, ambitious house-mother,
and of the popular gladiator. Even though she should lead the Senator by
the nose to humiliation, the scene was wonderfully picturesque, and her
thought daring. He did not know enough history to be aware that this
same scene had happened several hundred times in past centuries; but he
went out to take another look at the house which sheltered a woman of
pluck and genius. The secret of the villa was known. Anne had used it to
help in the selection of the next Mayor. He laughed from the depths of
his being as he walked along the shore.

The Everard children returned home early in September to enjoy the
preparations for the entrance of Louis into the seminary. The time had
arrived for him to take up the special studies of the priesthood, and
this meant his separation from the home circle forever. He would come
and go for years perhaps, but alas! only as a visitor. The soul of
Arthur was knit with the lad's as Jonathan with David. He had never
known a youth so gracious and so strange, whose heart was like a
sanctuary where

Fair gleams the snowy altar-cloth,
The silver vessels sparkle clean,
The shrill bell rings, the censer swings,
And solemn chants resound between.

It was with him as with Sir Galahad.

But all my heart is drawn above.
My knees are bowed in crypt and shrine
I never felt the kiss of love,
Nor maiden's hand in mine.

Parting with him was a calamity.

"How can you let him go?" he said to Mary Everard, busy with the
preparations.

"I am a happy woman that God calls my boy to His service," she answered
cheerfully. "The children go anyway ... it's nature. I left father and
mother for my own home. How good it is to think he is going to the
sanctuary. I know that he is going forever ... he is mine no more ... he
will come back often, but he is mine no more. I am heart-broken ... I am
keeping a gay face while he is here, for the child must not be worried
with our grief ... time enough for that when he is gone ... and he is so
happy. My heart is leaving me to go with him. Twenty years since he was
born, and in all that time not a moment's pain on his account ... all
his life has been ours ... as if he were the father of the family. What
shall I be for the rest of my life, listening for his step and his
voice, and never a