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They were the visible proof of his shame, his disloyalty, his dishonour. To keep them was to become a thief, and yet he shrank with a nervous terror quite new and strange to him from the task of returning them of going to the study at the rectory and putting them back in the cupboard. It had been easy to get possession of them; he had thought nothing of the risk of that. But to return them now seemed a task so thankless, and withal so perilous, that he quailed before it. With shaking hands he bundled them together and locked them in the lowest drawer of his writingtable. He would return them to-morrow.

CHAPTER XV.

THE BAZAAR.

BEFORE noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory had become known in the town; and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one. They had on their side all the advantages of prescription, however, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault. There had been none of these squabbles in old Mr. Williams's time, they said. Tongues had not wagged about him. But then, they added, he had not aspired to drive tandem with the Homfrays! The town had been good enough for him. He had not wanted to have everything his own way, nor thought himself a small Jupiter in the place. His head had not been turned by a little authority conferred too early, and conferred, if all the town heard was true, in some very odd and unsatisfactory manner.

To know that all round you people are saying that your conceit has led you into trouble is not pleasant. And in one way and another this impression was brought home to the young rector more than once during these days; so that his cheek flamed as he passed the window of the reading-room, or caught the halfrestrained sniggle in which Gregg ventured to indulge when in company. Nor were these annoyances all Lindo had to bear. The archdeacon scolded him roundly for placing the matter in the hands of the lawyers without consulting him. Mrs. Hammond

looked grave. Laura seemed less friendly than a little time back. Clode's conduct was odd, too, and unsatisfactory. He was sometimes enthusiastic and loyal, ready to back up his superior as warmly as could be wished; and anon he would show himself the reverse of all this—sullen, repellent, and absolutely unsympathetic.

Altogether the rector was not having a very sunny time, although the heat of conflict kept him warm, and he threw back his blonde head and set his face very hard as he strode about the town, his long-tailed black coat flapping behind him. Little guessing what was being said, he hugged himself more than ever on the one thing which his opponents could not take from him. When all was said and done, he fancied, in his innocence, he must still be rector of Claversham. If his promotion had not brought him as much happiness as he had expected, if he had not been able to do in his new position all he had hoped, the promotion and the position were yet undeniable. Knowing so well all the circumstances of his appointment, he did not give two thoughts to the curious story Kate Bonamy had told him. It did not create a single misgiving in his mind. He was sorry that he had treated her so cavalierly, and more than once he thought with regret almost tender of the girl and the interview. But, for the rest, he treated it as the ignorant invention of the enemy. Possibly on the strength of certain 'Varsity prejudices he was a little too prone to exaggerate the ignorance of Claversham.

On the day before the bazaar a visitor arrived in Claversham. The stranger was a small, dark, sharp-featured man, with a peculiarly alert manner, whom the reader will remember to have met in the Temple. Jack Smith, for he it was we parted from him last at Euston Station-may have come over on his own motion, or acting upon a hint from Mr. Bonamy, who, since the refusal of Gregg's offer, had thought more and more of the future which lay before his girls. The dark, quiet house had seemed more and more dull, not to him in his own person, but to him considering it in the night-watches through their eyes. Hitherto the lawyer had not encouraged the young Londoner's visits, perhaps because he dreaded the changes of various kinds which he might be forced to make. But now, whether he had given him a hint to come or not, he received him with undoubted cordiality.

Almost the first question Jack asked, Daintry hanging over the back of his chair and Kate smiling in more subdued radiance opposite him, was about his friend, the rector. Fortunately, Mr.

Bonamy was not in the room. 'And how about Lindo?' he asked.

'Have you seen much of him, Kate?'

'No, we have not seen much of him,' she answered, getting up to put something straight which was not greatly awry before. Father has, though,' Daintry explained, nodding her head seriously.

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'Oh, he has, has he?'

"Yes. He has served him with a writ.'

Jack whistled as much in annoyance as surprise. A writ!' he exclaimed. What about?'

About the sheep in the churchyard. Mr. Lindo turned them out,' Kate explained hurriedly, as if she wished to hear no more upon the subject.

But Jack was curious; and gradually he drew from them the story of the rector's iniquities, and acquired, as well, a pretty correct notion of the state of things in the parish. He whistled still more seriously then. It seems to me that the old man has been putting his foot in it here,' he said.

'He has,' Daintry answered solemnly, nodding any number of times. No end!'

'And yet he is the very best of fellows,' Jack replied, rubbing his short black hair in honest vexation. 'Don't you like him?' 'I did,' said Daintry, speaking for both of them.

'And you do not now?'

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The child reddened, and rubbed herself shyly against Kate's chair. Well, not so much!' she murmured, Jack's eyes upon her. He is too big a swell for us.'

'Oh, that is it, is it?' Jack said contemptuously.

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He pressed the matter no farther, and appeared to have forgotten the subject; but presently, when he was alone with Kate, he recurred to it. So, Lindo has been putting on airs, has he?' he observed. Yet, I thought when Daintry wrote to me, after you left us, that she seemed to like him.'

'He was very kind and pleasant to us on our journey,' Kate answered, compelling herself to speak with indifference. Butwell, you know, my father and he have not got on well; so, of course, we have seen little of him lately.'

'Oh, that is all, is it?' Jack answered, moving restlessly in his chair.

'That is all,' said Kate quietly.

This seemed to satisfy Jack, for at tea he surprised her-and

as for Daintry, she fairly leapt in her seat-by calmly announcing that he proposed to call on the rector in the course of the evening. 'You have no objection, sir, I hope,' he said, coolly looking across at his host. He has been a friend of mine for years, and though I hear you and he are at odds at present, it seems to me that that need not make mischief between us.'

'N—no,' said Mr. Bonamy slowly. 'I do not see why it should.' Nevertheless, the lawyer was greatly astonished. He had heard that Jack and Mr. Lindo were acquainted, but he had thought nothing of it. It is possible that this discovery of something more than acquaintance existing between the two led him to take new views of the rector, for after a pause he continued, I dare say in private he is not an objectionable man, now?'

'Quite the reverse, I should say!' Jack answered stoutly. 'You have known him for some time?'

For a long time, and very well.'

'Umph! Then it seems to me it is a pity he does not confine himself to private life,' the lawyer concluded with a characteristic touch. 'As a rector I do not like him!'

But I have Though indeed,

'I am sorry for that,' Jack answered cheerfully. not known much of him as a rector, you see, sir. as it happens, he brought the offer of the living straight to me, and I was the first person who congratulated him on his pro

motion.'

Mr. Bonamy lifted his eyes slowly from the tea cup he was raising to his lips, and looked fixedly at his visitor, his face wearing an expression much resembling strong curiosity. If a question was on the tip of his tongue he refrained from putting it, however; and Jack, who by no means wished to hear the tale of his friend's shortcomings repeated, said no more until they rose from the table. Then he remarked, Lindo dines late, I expect?'

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He put the question to Kate, but the lawyer answered it. 'Oh, yes, he does everything which is fashionable,' he said dryly. And Jack, putting this and that together, began to see still more clearly how the land lay, and on what shoals his friend had wrecked his popularity.

About half-past eight he went to the rectory, but found that Lindo was not at home. The door was opened to him, however, by Mrs. Baxter, who had often seen the barrister in the East India Dock Road, and knew him well; and she pressed him to walk in and wait. He dined at home, sir,' she explained. I think he

has only slipped out for a few minutes. I am sure he would wish you to wait.'

He followed her accordingly across the panelled hall to the study, where for a moment a whimsical smile played upon his face as he viewed its spacious comfort. The curtains were drawn, the fire was burning redly, and the lamp was turned half down. The housekeeper made as if she would have turned it up, but he prevented her. I like it as it is,' he said genially. 'This is better than No. 383, Mrs. Baxter ?'

'Well, sir,' she answered, looking round with an air of modest proprietorship, it is a bit more like.'

'What would you have?' he asked, laughing. The bishop's palace ?'

'We may come to that in time, sir,' she answered, folding her arms demurely. But I do not know that I would wish it! He has a peck of troubles now, and there would be more in a palace, I doubt.'

'I agree with you,' Jack replied, laughing. Troubles come thick about an apron, Mrs. Baxter.'

'Ay, the men see to that!' the good lady retorted. And, having got the last word, she went away delighted.

Left alone, Jack lay back in an arm-chair, and, nursing his hat, wondered what Mrs. Baxter would say when she discovered his connection with the Bonamys. From this his thoughts passed to Kate, but he had not been seated musing two minutes before he heard the door of the house open and shut, and a man's tread cross the hall. The next moment the study door opened, and a tall man appeared at it, and stood holding it and looking into the room. The hall lamp was behind the newcomer, and Jack, seeing that he was not the rector, sat still.

The stranger seemed to be satisfying himself that the room was empty, for after pausing a moment, he stepped in and closed the door behind him; and, rapidly crossing the floor, stood before one of the bookcases. He took something-a key Jack judged by what followed-from his pocket, and with it he swiftly threw open a cupboard among the books.

There was nothing remarkable in the action; but the stranger's manner was so hurried and nervous, that the looker-on leaned forward, curious to learn what he was about. He expected to see him take something from the cupboard. Instead, the man appeared to put something in. What it was, however, Jack could not discern,

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