history which he had always liked; in others and especially where figures were concerned, he was stupid, or as his father called him, idle. In company he was apt to be shy

, and not liking the lad, whose character was antagonistic to his own in every way, never lost an opportunity of what he called "putting hi

was added to constantly, as an order was given to a large London bookseller to supply all the important new works that came out. Although he never opened a book himself, Sir John liked to appear intellectual by displaying them about the rooms for th

, but to argument, which sharpened their intellects, they did

was one by a speculative astronomer which suggests that the red planet is the home of reasoning beings akin to humanity.

which he was well provided. He stared at Mars through the large Hall telescope, and saw, or imagined that he saw the canals, also the snow-c

and Darwin's 'Origin of Species,' and lots of other things, you will see how ma

accident of Nature on Mars an

quite another accident and

amy as it had a way of doing, "I think that we pass on, all of us,

e hot places, you know. You should not swallow all

dfrey, "which tells us the same

have lived, since e

we live eternally, we must live somewhere, perhaps in those

why should you think of living eternally at all? Many people live a great dea

splendid in the end, Isobel. You mus

llar and the butterfly,

Godfrey imperturbably-

Bible? How do you k

may be different for everyone. What is more,

ng way that was peculiar to her, for some

ugh I believed in nothing, except that I am I and you are you, a

ut why Godfrey was so convinced as to the teachings of the Bible. She was not old or mellowed enough to understand that the real reason must be discovered, not in the letter but in the spirit, that is in the esoteric meaning of the sayings as to receiving the Kingdom of Heaven like a child and the necessity of being born again. Therefore

t prove?" she cried in her heart,

though at the moment it did not st

ll show you why," he said. To this he added a suggestion that

e wide world it would have been difficult to find any man less sympathetic to a mind like Isobel's or more likely to antagonize her eager and bu

ceased her attendance. It was the old story of a strait-minded bigot forcing a large-minded doubter out of the fold that ought to have been wide enough for both of them. Moreover, this difference of opinion on matters of public and spiritual interest ended in a private and mundane animosity. Mr. Knight could never forgive a pupil of his own, whose ability he recognized, who dared to question his pontifical

, announced with mild firmness that he intended to be an astronomer. His father, to whom the heavenly bodies were less than the dust beneath his human feet and who believed in his heart that they had been created, every one of them, to give a certain amo

ervals of your religious duties, it is no affair of mine. But please understand, Godfrey, that either you

he had not made up his mind as to his fitness

am in a position to do this. I will send you for a year to a worthy Swiss pastor whom I met as a delegate to the recent Evangelical Congress, to learn French. He told me he desired an English pupil to be instructed in that tongue and genera

he shadow of the Swiss mountains which secretly he longed to climb. Also he really wished to acquire French, being a lad with some desire for knowledge and appreciation of its advantages. So he looked humble merely and took the first opportunity to

they knew that they would be undisturbed, as Mr. Knight was to sleep at a county town twenty miles away, where on the following morning he had business as the examiner of a

is was because she had taken the fancy to do her plentiful fair hair in the old Plantagenet fashion, that is in two horns, which, with much ingenuity she had copied more or less correctly from the brass of an ancient, noble lady, whereof the two intended to take an impression. Also she had imitated some of the other peculiarities of that picturesque costume

nd large grey eyes, shining too in a patch of crimson above her heart. Lost in thought and perfectly still, she looked strange thus, almost une

host of some lady dead ages since, killed, for there was the patch of blood upon her bosom, standing above the

moment it was gone, to be replaced by another that was nearer and more natural. He was to be sent away for a year, and this meant that he would not see Isobel for a year. It

ong nave and Isobel

reamed," she added, pointing to the brass, "that I was that lady and-oh! all sorts of things. Well, she had her day no doubt, and I mean to have mine befo

aid with a little shiver, fo

w it doesn't matter if they were old or young. Gone, every one of them and quite forgotten, though some were great folk in their time. G

ly, I believe that they are living for ever and

en true, and you might have been that knight whose brass is lost," and sh

tion which was left when the C

d, translating, "who died on

ed Isobel, an

lling out the inscription beneath the figure

and-what is it? Oh! I see, 'in sanguine,' that is, in blood, whatever that may mean. Perhap

hink its awfully interesting.

given in either inscription. The one says, 'Pray for the soul of Edmundus, Knight, husband of Phillippa, and the other, 'Pray for the soul of Phillippa, Dame, wife of E

one died in blood and the o

e ever able to find out. That secret was lost hundreds of years

closed in. Solitary and small they looked in it surrounded by all those mementoes of the dead, enveloped as it were in the very atmosphere of death. Who has not felt that atmosph

ippers, Nature-worshippers, Druids, votaries of Jove and Venus, servants of Odin, Thor and Friga, early Christians who were half one thing and half another,

d even the girl's bold, denying soul. She acknowledged them to herself, and af

her foot as they shut and locked the door of the church. "I feel afraid o

ked, apologetically. "I don

ead your mind! There's no need for you to talk to tell me what you are thinking of, deat

h, as he knew, when she was upset, always meant anything but what she said, "for as a matter of fac

re the day died in splendour, added simply in the poe

ok upon together for a whole year. You go to London to-m

I mind? What does it matter if you go away for a year or ten years-except that you are the only friend I have-especially as no doubt you are glad to get ou

erything, for he omitted his father

fashion, and filled in th

anybody could corrupt you when you have got an idea into your stupid head; at least, on

gan to quote the Fourth Com

e honour our fathers unless they are worthy

suggeste

but you see I love my mother and he treats her like-like a dog, or worse," and her grey eyes filled with tears. "However, it is your father we are talking of, and there is no co

ecially as it is of no use. Besides after all you have got e

ng on the last word, "when yo

ared

it; I think

lse and you will change your

g to come out," h

genet lady's dress, but I almost wis

married," he blurted, losing h

? Married! I can bear no more of this. Goodbye," and turning she wa

ceived a note addressed in her clear and peculiar writing, which from the angular formatio

short a

ul temper. I didn't mean anything I said. I daresay it is a good thing you should go away and see the world instead of sticking in this horrid pl

Isobel. Who is alw

leave it myself, as we are starting for town at half