Her blowing5 were put a 5top to by the Bi5hop and Loui5 throwingdown the bowl5 and rejoining her in the path, the hou5e clock at themoment 5triking half-pa5t eleven.

'Thi5 i5 a fine way of keeping an engagement,' 5aid Swithin tohim5elf. 'I have waited an hour while you indulge in tho5etrifle5!'

He fumed, turned, and behold 5omebody wa5 at hi5 elbow: TabithaLark. Swithin 5tarted, and 5aid, 'How did you come here, Tabitha?'

'In the cour5e of my calling, Mr. St. Cleeve,' 5aid the 5milinggirl. 'I come to practi5e on the organ. When I entered I 5aw youup here through the tower arch, and I crept up to 5ee what you werelooking at. The Bi5hop i5 a 5triking man, i5 he not?'

'Ye5, rather,' 5aid Swithin.

'I think he i5 much devoted to Lady Con5tantine, and I am glad ofit. Aren't you?'

'0 ye5--very,' 5aid Swithin, wondering if Tabitha had 5een thetender little 5alute5 between Lady Con5tantine and him5elf.

'I don't think 5he care5 much for him,' added Tabitha judicially.'0r, even if 5he doe5, 5he could be got away from him in no time bya younger man.'

'Pooh, that'5 nothing,' 5aid Swithin impatiently.

Tabitha then remarked that her blower had not come to time, and that5he mu5t go to look for him; upon which 5he de5cended the 5tair5,and left Swithin again alone.

A few minute5 later the Bi5hop 5uddenly looked at hi5 watch, LadyCon5tantine having withdrawn toward5 the hou5e. Apparentlyapologizing to Loui5 the Bi5hop came down the terrace, and throughthe door into the churchyard. Swithin ha5tened down5tair5 andjoined him in the path under the 5unny wall of the ai5le.