le light, appearing like a one-eyed night creature watching him from an ambush. Leaving his horse at the parsonage he performed the remainder of

r natural thoroughfare, particularly for christenings, weddings, and funerals, which passed the squire's mansion with due considerations as to the scenic effect of the same from the manor windows. Hence the house of Constantine, when going out from its breakfast, had been continually crossed on the doorstep for t

m end to end of the terrace, was in darkness as the vicar slackened his pace before it

l and isolated. In her left hand she held a letter and a couple of at-home cards. The soft dark eyes which she raised to him as he entered - large, and melancholy by circumstance far

ree years had passed since his induction to the living of Welland, but he had never as yet found means to establish that reciprocity with Lady Constantine which usually grows up, in the course of time, between parsonage and manor-house - unless, inde

ter in her hand was on the point of pulling it from its envelope; but she did not. After a moment she went on more quickly: 'I wanted your ad

dy Constantine, either from timidity, misgiving, or reconviction, had swerved

cal business or intelligence, at the tenor of her words

service, on that or any oth

Blount Constantine, was, not to mince matters, a mistaken - somewhat jealo

edge of Sir Blount's cha

than his mistrust of me. Before going away he sat down with me in this room, and read me a lecture, which resulted in a very rash offer on my part. When I tell it to you, you will find that it provides a key to all that is unusual in my life here. He bade me consider what my position would be when he was gone; hoped that I should remember what was due to him - that I would not so behave towards other men as to bring the name of Constantine into suspicion; and charged me to avoid levity of conduct in attending any ball, rout, or dinner to which I might be invited. I, in some contem

you are, it seems to me, bound by that promise. I fear that the wish to be released from your engagement is to so

ued, with a sigh. 'Yet it certainly does sometimes say to me that - that

g from you by compulsion, moral or physical, it would have been open to you to break it. But as you proposed a vow when your h

gnation. 'But it was quite a wor

ws, says, "An oath for confirmation is an end of all strife." And you will readily recall the words of Ecclesiastes, "Pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that

desire would, in his mind, be a sufficient r

sed the room, and was within two steps of the door, she said, 'Mr. Torkingham.' He sto

side. 'What is the rest of it, the

but there is something more. I have received

it now, my

t speak of it now! Some other time. Don't stay. Please consi