the captain, unconvinced.

A pale smile flitted over Gabriel's lips, not unnoticed by the bishop,
but as he purposed speaking to him later, he made no remark on it at the
moment.

'What do you wish me to do, sir?' asked George, after a pause.

'I have told you,' rejoined the bishop, mildly. 'I desire you to rejoin
your regiment and not come back to Beorminster until I send for you.'

'Do you object to my seeing Mab before I go?'

'By no means; see both Miss Arden and Miss Whichello if you like, and
tell them both that it is by my desire you go away.'

'Well, sir,' said Captain Pendle, slowly, 'I am willing to obey you and
return to my work, but I refuse to give up Mab,' and not trusting
himself to speak further, lest he should lose his temper altogether, he
abruptly left the room. The bishop saw him retire with a sigh and shook
his head. Immediately afterwards he addressed himself to Gabriel, who,
with some apprehension, was waiting for him to speak.

'Gabriel,' said Dr Pendle, picking up a letter, 'Harry has written to me
from Nauheim, saying that he is compelled to return home on business. As
I do not wish your mother and Lucy to be alone, it is my desire that you
should join them--at once!'

The curate was rather amazed at the peremptory tone of this speech, but
hastened to assure his father that he was quite willing to go. The
reason given for the journey seemed to him a sufficient one, and he had
no suspicion that his father's real motive was to separate him from
Bell. The bishop saw that this was the case, and forthwith came to the
principal point of the interview.

'Do you know why I wish you to go abroad?' he asked sharply.

'To join my mother and Lucy--you told me so.'

'That is one reason, Gabriel; but there is another and more important
one.'

A remembrance of his secret engagement turned the curate's face crimson;
but he faltered out that he did not understand what his father meant.

'I think you understand well enough,' said Dr Pendle, sternly. 'I allude
to your disgraceful conduct in connection with that woman at The Derby
Winner.'

'If you allude to my engagement to Miss Mosk, sir,' cried Gabriel, with
spirit, 'there is no need to use the word disgraceful. My conduct
towards that young lady has been honourable throughout.'

'And what about your conduct towards your father?' asked the bishop.

Gabriel hung his head. 'I intended to tell you,' he stammered, 'when--'

'When you could summ