The Portland daily press., 1892-04-16
Stretching up he settled the little tea
cup carefully among the Seyres china


on the mantel piece, and crossing his
legs Tolaed his white hands oo1nposedly
on his apron.
II should wish you to tell me all about
it at once, Marion? Why delay anything
you have to says"
She hesitated an instant longer, the
freight playing around her heavy eye
lashes. "The long and the short of the
thing is this" she said; "or rather, this
Is what might be called the short of it,
and the long will come after. I have
made up my mind to go over to Rome"
The bishop uncrossed his legs with a
sudden movement and stared at Miss
Jollibert. After an instant's pause he
raised himself once more and brought
his teacup carefully down from the
mantel piece again. my dear" said he,
could | trouble you for little more
sugar; just the le-east thing? Thank
you, thank you. Abr The "ah" was
more in the way of sigh than an inter-
lection, and with it he half closed one
eye and infinitely inspected with the
other the morsel of currant bun he was
engaged in eating. There was something
in the aotion which appeared to irritate
Miss Jollibert slightly, for she pushed
her chair back from the fire and asked
him very quickly, did your lordship
not hear meF'
He finished the currant bun and folded
his hands composedly again.
&c. repeated he, "you have quite
made up your mind to go over to Rome?"
."Quite," said Miss Jollibert, and after
an instant's pause, unbroken except for
the cracking of the flames, she added
"Quite, again.
"Why?'' asked the bishop quickly.
son account of my convictions" re-
piled Miss Joliibert still more quickly.
''Of course it has taken me a long
time to make up my mind about this,
and of course am very sorry. I have
studied Butler and Jeremy, Taylor and
Luther's treatises, and Manning and
Newman. | have fought against my
conviction as never fought against any
thing before, and yet, in spite of myself,
as it were, have been converted. Of
course | am very sorry that it should be
SO. In case like this, however, think
that one is not, perhaps, entirely re-
sponsible for ones own conversion"
The bishop inspected the side of his
handsome foot, and setting himself a
little more comfortably, nodded with
much benevolence. ''Quite so, quite so;
very possibly not, my dear"
H. ~ L.xJ
tie poker and gave a sharp tap to bit
of coal which sent it rafting noisily
down upon the painted tiles. s'I beg
your pardon, my DEAR" said he rueful-
ly. II ought never to have meddled
with the fire, you see-just as you ought
never to have meddled with theologians.
Hand me the tongs, Marion"
She did as he asked her, a rush of
tears coming into her dark eyes. SIT is
no use to talk to me in that way; no use
saying anything, since l have quite
made up my mind. And besides that"
she added after slight pause, with her
eyes fixed anxiously on the back of the
bishops fair head, just then within dan
gerous proximity to the CRATE, 81 have
quite made up my mind that am going
to dispose of my house and my horses
and my furniture and everything, and
Immediately after I have collected my
money l shall go into convent and
take the veil"
He put the tongs carefully down on
the fender, and sticking two of his long,
whitesfngers into Miss Jollibert's sugar
basin brought out a little pointed lump
and balanced it dreamily in the air.
"Ah!" sighed he again.
Miss Jollibert pushed her chair back
abruptly and stood before him. 'sWhy
do you only answer sah,' like that? l
asked you here to help me, because you
used to always help me with things; and
now you only answer 'ah.'" Then, turn
ing suddenly away, she crossed both
hands upon the mantel piece and leaned
her head down upon them. ssOh, don't
you see what it is? Don't you under
stand? What is the use of carriages and
horses and furniture and wealth like
mine? What is the use of life? | want
to do something? want to liver"
The bishop rose. He drew one of her
hands gently from her face and closed
his own over it. II understand" he
said huskily, and looked straight into
the fire.
After long pause some thought ap-
peared suddenly to strike him, for with
an abrupt movement he drew his hand
away, and, walking across to the other
side of the fire, ostentatiously put up his
double eyeglass to examine little Alma
Tadema upon the opposite wall.
'.Don't confuse your convictions with
your inclinations," he began. "Your
father had that picture in much bet
ter light than you have, Marion. AS
you say, do something, but don't let
your inclination to do something inter-
fere with your convictions. Of you were
to shorten the string it might be better
Why not become doctor?'
"a doctor!'' calculated she dazedly.
eyes," he continued, working with
the string Of the picture in an distracted
fashion. COR a lawyer; there would be
a great path Of usefulness open to you.
/ have heard of lady solicitors-and you