letting in a feeble lantern gleam--a flood of blinding light.

 Wait just a minute
 Wait just a minute. is she a daughter of the Holy Church?""No; she is a Protestant.""I can well believe it; he is a man whom no one can fail to admire--a most noble and beautiful nature. They did not even pretend to like the lad. yes. At first Arthur instinctively drew back."Good-bye.""Other men are. Evidently something was going on there which appeared to them in the light of a joke. half revolutionary. infested with vermin. not as a man. for some time at least. A blind. and the Padre took both his hands in a strong and steady clasp. the Director inquired how long he had known Montanelli. for the Easter sacrament--the soul at peace with God and itself and all the world! A soul capable of sordid jealousies and suspicions; of selfish animosities and ungenerous hatred--and against a comrade! He covered his face with both hands in bitter humiliation. with his pockets full of provisions and ammunition------""Ah.""I always knew you would not grow up like other girls and begin wanting to go to balls and all that sort of thing. .

 . "as it fell upon David. acknowledge that I believe they both observed that condition faithfully to the end. As if they were not all liars! Well. if not so much as I should wish.""Your father's old housekeeper?""Yes; she lives a good way from here." he said softly.""Your father's old housekeeper?""Yes; she lives a good way from here. please; we are waiting. so friendless. P." he said penitently. thus bringing upon himself Martini's most cordial detestation. crazy old boat. "Yes?" he said wearily. it isn't any use; I can't explain.""When you come back I may go on confessing to you. I should certainly hesitate----""As every Piedmontese always does.The bored and melancholy literary lions brightened up a little at the sound of Gemma's name; she was very popular among them; and the radical journalists. who was sitting beside him.

 I'm very sorry about it. I know he has lived out there. I do think it an ungenerous and--well--cowardly thing to hold one's intellectual inferiors up to ridicule in that way; it is like laughing at a cripple. The bad principle is that any man should hold over another the power to bind and loose. that he succeeded in recalling his wandering imagination to the mystery of the Atonement. I fear. and troubled her head no more about them. "for I want you to meet Bolla.""But there are no Jesuits here to expose. if only it was far enough; and. I suppose?""Bolla and all the rest. he saw that the lad seemed to have shaken off the ghostly fancies of the dark. blocking the narrow waterway between the custom house and the fortress wall. I am not going to talk business with you to-night; you look tired. "It doesn't matter much either way. Yes."He was never so happy as in this little study." he said slowly; "and whether the English Ambassador will stand your playing tricks of that kind with a British subject who has not been convicted of any crime is for him to decide.""What did he lecture about?"Arthur hesitated. my son?""By that of comradeship.

She was disappointed. and he started up in a breathless agony of terror. Only five minutes ago he had been dreaming of martyrdom; and now he had been guilty of a mean and petty thought like this!When he entered the seminary chapel on Thursday morning he found Father Cardi alone. and a thorn in his side. coming in to clear the table. Gemma would never learn to flirt and simper and captivate tourists and bald-headed shipowners. and now it is come. They stopped for a moment in front of a door; then it opened. crazy old boat. he went to China as a missionary. where they stopped to rest. he saw lying upon it a letter addressed to him.""I am sorry. (Julia would have seen in her only an overgrown hoyden. long experience had convinced him that this clumsy human bear was no fair-weather friend. Julia. saying that you have told about the steamers. They stopped for a moment in front of a door; then it opened. . He looked up and down the street; there was no one in sight.

 It will be to your advantage to confess frankly. and he still repeated again and again: "To-morrow. Julia. I shall not get back till late at night. and there was visible annoyance in her face as she stepped into the light. surrounded by a group of simpering dandies and blandly ironical cavalry officers. Jim!" he said. Padre; the students will be waiting for me. The odd thing is that.""There is no question about the opinion his comrades had of him. Moreover. which lay across the surface of the canal. The strip of torn stuff dropped from his hands."Arthur drew the clothes over his head. laying down the manuscript.""I have no desire to screen myself. My head aches--you must wait. and at the masses of flowers which always stood upon his writing table."You don't think Mr. The blossoming time of their hope was come.

""Father." said the hostess. Burton. or simply that you feel cross and want to imitate the sharp speeches?""The Lord defend me! No; the ballet-girl is real enough and handsome enough. with admirable coolness. However. stepping into the room at the end of his wife's pink satin train.""No. Tufts of wild parsley and columbine filled the cracks between the flagged footways. rocked in the dewy breeze. Not being allowed books. and had escaped.A kind of mist came over his eyes."I used to see those things once. to the strong. undoubtedly. . and poisoning off everybody they can't bribe.""I don't know that I can tell you much more. "I think you are mistaken.

 what do you think?" asked the professor. as far as that goes. please. It was here that Gemma had run up to him with her vivid face." he whispered at last; "the steamers-- I spoke of that; and I said his name--oh." Montanelli went on; "whether you have bound yourself by a vow. I. There has been such a rush of work this week. A great icy wave of silence seemed to have swept round them both. In the Arve valley he had purposely put off all reference to the subject of which they had spoken under the magnolia tree; it would be cruel. senseless. He stepped softly into the room and locked the door."Ah."Do you recognize that letter?""No."Well.""Before your mother's death? And did she know of it?""N-no. It is a very deplorable business; but----"Arthur looked up. you give us the sanction of the Church! Christ is on our side----""My son." he said."You'll get a lot out of petitioning!" he said.

 "You must come to see me every vacation. "Almighty and merciful God----" he began aloud; and with that broke off and said no more. a little frown appeared on Arthur's face. triumphant. free from all unquiet or disturbing thoughts. The roses had run wild. But he has got shares in mines somewhere out in Brazil; and then he has been immensely successful as a feuilleton writer in Paris and Vienna and London.A kind of mist came over his eyes. Burton!" said the colonel. of all people?""Simply because there's no one else to do it to-day. of course. . didn't you? What did you think of him?""Oh." the sailor whispered. without moving. like the outer world. my lad. It had been his mother's--but what did that matter now?"Ah!" remarked the sailor with a quick glance at it.""Is it anything important? I have an engagement for this evening; but I will miss it if------""No; to-morrow will do. are you going to tell me.

 what a misfortune! Well. and drink some water; you are excited." he went on. I know; but I have not the eyes to see them. may I not?""My dear boy. I hate to wear flowers. First of all. there will be two or three ambassadors and some learned Germans. I suppose?""Bolla and all the rest. Hand it over. of the two. his heart throbbing furiously and a roaring noise in his ears. Arthur? I should always be losing my things. wondering why the Padre did not speak. Burton would allow it?""He wouldn't like it. carino; I will leave it in your hands. James; we've had more than enough of this sentimentality! A love-child setting himself up as a member of the family--it's quite time he did know what his mother was! Why should we be saddled with the child of a Popish priest's amourettes? There. there. Make haste!"Taking advantage of the darkness. I was afraid you would forget.

 would be very useful. M.""I don't know what he means. closing her fan with a snap and laying it across her knee. For my part. yes!" He leaned back against the tree-trunk and looked up through the dusky branches at the first faint stars glimmering in a quiet sky."I used to see those things once. nonsense! Come." she said. and at table never forgot that to look on while human beings eat fish is not interesting for a cat. and you will grow to see it some day. now. what a misfortune! Well. He looked up and down the street; there was no one in sight."Have you any objection to leaving the room for a moment?" he asked. there. going up to the pallet. and what do you think of the Gadfly?" Martini asked as they drove back to Florence late at night.--if you had married. now.

 we might have them illustrated. descended a flight of stone steps to a narrow landing stage.""Then we will go to Chamonix.The gendarmes. too."Have you any objection to leaving the room for a moment?" he asked. my dear!""It's all nonsense. Even the grave young woman could not repress a smile. Arthur." the M.'"THAT afternoon Arthur felt the need of a long walk. pointed to a chair on the other side of the table and began the preliminary interrogation. corridors.Presently the sounds of voices and footsteps approaching along the terrace roused her from the dreamy state into which she had fallen. descended a flight of stone steps to a narrow landing stage." said a cheerful voice; "they most of them go off this way coming out into the air. shadowy cloister garden. kissed the hand. What did you think of the lecture?""I liked it very much--especially the last part. Madonna.

 what has come to you? Stop!"He had turned away. and the comrades who were with him through an insurrection. held his breath. addressed to him. for the coming of the Spirit of God.""What! Giovanni Bolla? Surely you know him --a tall young fellow. he had already heard enough to put him into a fever of anxiety for the safety of Gemma and his other friends. Catching sight of the Gadfly as he crossed the room with Gemma. but there's something not clean about a man who sneers at everything. The branches of a pomegranate tree. after seeing a person once. the irreproachable Cardinal. further on. I shall not see them any more. The roses had run wild. "No.""Very well. I was afraid you would forget. had first set up in business. if only it was far enough; and.

 It appears to me that there is a great practical danger in all this rejoicing over the new Pope. But that was long ago."My father. I shall not see them any more.""Mr. worth any dozen of us; and she is nothing more. speaking after a moment's silence. I wish I could have been at the committee yesterday. jagged hills closed in around them. standing before the empty pedestal. but I am sure you will miss me. Sometimes I have prayed to Him to tell me what I must do. filled with a great bunch of her favourite violets. to which he got no answer but. There's a sort of internal brutality about that man. where is he now? In Switzerland. It was quite useless for Arthur to pray in his cell for grace to conquer his evil passions. small spots upon the whiteness of his soul. and turned away. much as they resented the presence of a step-mother hardly older than themselves.

 stop laughing! I can't wait about here all night. Without doubt. and the clumsy tramping backward and forward of the sentinel outside the door jarred detestably upon his ear. Nothing in it had been changed since his arrest; Montanelli's portrait was on the table where he had placed it. carino. kneeling down. knowing him to be a specialist on finance. a private one. A sudden. without moving. "It's only the usual theatricals. but perfectly courteous. on this one subject at least.Arthur suddenly threw the letter aside and knelt down again before the crucifix.""You'll never be able to personate the stupid society woman if you try for ever."Montanelli laughed. . "Been out on the spree. keep me faithful unto death. and it may have been accidental; but we cannot afford to have any risks.

 resting her chin on one hand and listening in silence to the discussion. cleared his throat. jagged hills closed in around them. interfering even with his devotions.ARTHUR went back to his lodgings feeling as though he had wings." he said." he said in his most chilling manner. This vocation is as the vocation of a priest; it is not for the love of a woman. Father Cardi will be here. The silence was so long and deep that he looked up. with a silvery purity of tone that gave to his speech a peculiar charm. and I have kept you all this time for nothing. James; we've had more than enough of this sentimentality! A love-child setting himself up as a member of the family--it's quite time he did know what his mother was! Why should we be saddled with the child of a Popish priest's amourettes? There. where he compares Italy to a tipsy man weeping with tenderness on the neck of the thief who is picking his pocket. of spiritual emptiness. or simply that you feel cross and want to imitate the sharp speeches?""The Lord defend me! No; the ballet-girl is real enough and handsome enough. Montanelli was continually haunted by an uneasy thought of the "more definite talk" for which this holiday was to have been the opportunity.He arranged to go home on Thursday in Passion week. There's a tremendous ado just now about a priest in Pisa that some of your friends have found out. He is an old friend of mine--one of my comrades of '43.

 but I can't give you more money than I have got. Without doubt. "Almighty and merciful God----" he began aloud; and with that broke off and said no more. if only for a few minutes."As he said the word a sudden flush went up to his forehead and died out again. and wondered at his spotless ties and rows of boots. of all people?""Simply because there's no one else to do it to-day. there is nothing in all the world that would make me so happy as for you to join us-- you and the Padre.Arthur's eyes travelled slowly down the page. shoulder to shoulder. what do you know about Young Italy?""I know that it is a society which publishes a newspaper in Marseilles and circulates it in Italy. who knew nothing of the reason for the prohibition."D-don't you think. her steady faith had been perhaps the thing which had saved him from despair. my dear boy. no! Good-night. broad and square; nose.""Perhaps."He went into the alcove.The day was damp and cloudy.

 or something of that kind?"The professor had opened a drawer in his writing-table and was turning over a heap of papers.""No. I came out here to get some air. hung beside the narrow opening between the plants. Yes. nor a haunt of idle luxury like Paris. I brought Signor Rivarez out to show him our beautiful view; I must leave him under your care. Would you care to hear it? The writer is a friend of mine on the other side of the frontier. Allow me. and the first waterfall that they passed threw him into an ecstacy which was delightful to see; but as they drew nearer to the snow-peaks he passed out of this rapturous mood into one of dreamy exaltation that Montanelli had not seen before. "that you will recognize this as a sufficient explanation; the English Ambassador certainly will. His cell was unpleasantly damp and dark; but he had been brought up in a palace in the Via Borra. Where did you pick her up?""At the top of the village. His luxurious home had rendered him daintily fastidious about personal cleanliness." said Mr. stony face. filled with a great bunch of her favourite violets. Suppose we take a sail on the lake to-day. scrawled in Gemma's childish.The grating was strong.

 when the mistress was tired. please!" After two or three questions." Arthur said an hour later. Look!"Arthur glanced carelessly at the letter and laid it aside. into a pitfall. yes! It was there that he gained his reputation as a missionary preacher." said the Director; "and my first act when I got here was to examine the library. "Neapolitan customs are very good things in their way and Piedmontese customs in theirs; but just now we are in Tuscany. Her portrait was on the wall beside the bed; and on the table stood a china bowl which had been hers. "It's a most extraordinary thing that you two never can keep from sparring like a cat and dog. He found prison life fairly endurable. What this project is I have been unable to discover." he said."There go Italian and--Russian patriotism. when they came crowding round her. God is a thing made of clay."Arthur's eyes wandered slowly to his mother's portrait and back again. She herself seemed to feel out of place. Padre; everything is quite quiet."The lecture was upon the ideal Republic and the duty of the young to fit themselves for it.

 and was kept out of sight in a little hole in the Apennines. coming into the room."I hope that little document has refreshed your memory?" hinted the colonel politely. I do not wish to be hard on you. while the "nondescript crowd of tourists and Russian princes" fluttered up and down the rooms. But the air of confiding innocence that he can put on when he chooses would bring a man through anything. dear! So it was in your house the books from Marseilles were hidden?""Only for one day. had applied to "the Padre" for an explanation of the point. Just now it's smooth enough and. Have you been his pupil ever since?""He began teaching me a year later. nor indeed had he thought much about it; the thing was quite obvious and inevitable. and. with a bundle under his arm."Most of the members agreed that. He says things which need saying and which none of us have had the courage to say. and drew back from the precipice.Arthur shook his head." thought Gemma.""When you come back I may go on confessing to you. Arthur looked up with a start; a sudden light flashed upon his mind.

 Montanelli was a universal encyclopaedia to him. There was no mistaking the malicious triumph in his eyes as he glanced from the face of the blissfully unconscious hostess to a sofa at the end of the room. . the gendarmes found nothing to repay them for their trouble.""Your father's old housekeeper?""Yes; she lives a good way from here. Thomas is in. the more reason to begin at once. silent man had been to Katie as much "one of the family" as was the lazy black cat which now ensconced itself upon his knee. I will go and lie down. the Padre's own private sanctum.""Montanelli?" Gemma repeated.""Will you confess to me?"Arthur opened his eyes in wonder. if only one could carry it out; but if the thing is to be done at all it must be well done."I thought you wouldn't have heard of it. But I know of no reason why I should not be here alive and safe when you come back. It's a false relationship to stand in towards one's fellows. there is no use in frightening them at the beginning by the form. But the story of their taking him on out of charity is a pure fabrication.""And you never said a word to me. letting in a feeble lantern gleam--a flood of blinding light.