w any light upon, for--for
other people's sake."

"Ah!" said Mr. Wilberforce. He refilled the pipe very deliberately, and
with a very grave face. Then, with a sudden flash of illumination, "I
make no doubt," he cried, "it's something about those tenants of your
uncle's. He is urging you to go to the Elms."

"Well, since you have guessed, that is about it," said Cavendish. "I
can't carry out my commission, and as I'd rather not explain to him----"

"Why shouldn't you explain to him? I have quite been calculating that
you would explain to him, and get him to take action, and free us of a
set of people so much--so entirely," cried the indignant rector, "out of
our way!"

"Well, you see," said Dick, "it's not such an easy thing to get people
out of a house. I know enough about law to know that; and the old fellow
would be in a terrible way if he knew. I don't want to worry him, don't
you see? so the best thing I can do is to say I left very soon, and had
not the time to call."

"Well, for one thing, I am rather glad to hear you say so," said the
rector; "for I thought at first, by the way you introduced the subject,
that your uncle himself, who has always borne such an excellent
character, was somehow mixed up----"

Cavendish replied by a peal of laughter so violent as almost to look
hysterical. He laughed till the tears ran down his cheeks. "Poor old
uncle," he said,--"poor old fellow! After a long and blameless life to
be suspected, and that by a clergyman!"

"Cavendish," said the rector severely, "you are too bad; you make fun of
things the most sacred. It is entirely your fault if I ever associated
in my mind for a moment---- However," he added, "there is one thing
certain: you can't go away till you have dined at the Warren, according
to Mrs. Warrender's invitation. In her circumstances one must be doubly
particular, and as she made an effort for Theo's sake, and yours as his
friend----"

"Oh, she made an effort! I did not think of that."

"If you are in such a hurry, Emily can find out in the morning whether
to-morrow will suit them, and one day longer will not matter, surely. I
can't conceive why you should feel such an extreme delicacy about it."

"Oh, that's my way," said Dick lightly. "I am extremely delicate about
everything, though you don't seem to find it out."

"I wish you could be a little serious about something," said the rector,
with a sigh. "Things are not all made to get a laugh out, though