hop, listening, was proud of the down-rightness of the young
fellow. It was good to hear. When he had heard all he bowed in his
old-fashioned, stiff way and said:

"Your mother, young man, is a rare and wise woman. You will convey to
her my deepest respect.

"I do not know what it all means," he went on, in another tone. "But I
can soon find out."

He rang a bell, and as his secretary opened the door the Bishop said:

"Will you see, please, if General Chandler is in his office across the
street. If he is, give him my respects and ask him to step over here a
moment."

The secretary bowed, but hesitated a little in the doorway.

"What is it?" asked the Bishop.

"There is a young girl out there, Bishop. She says she must see you,
but she will not give a name. She seems to be in trouble, or
frightened."

Jeffrey Whiting was on his feet and making for the door.

"Sit down where you were, young man," said the Bishop sharply. If Ruth
Lansing were out there--and the Bishop half believed that she
was--well, it _might_ be coincidence. But it was too much for the
Bishop's credulity.

"Send the girl in here," he said shortly.

Ruth Lansing walked into the room and went straight to the Bishop. She
did not see Jeffrey.

"I came straight here all the way," she said, "to tell you, Bishop,
that I couldn't stay in the convent any longer. I am going home. I
could not stay there."

"I am very glad to see you, Ruth," said the Bishop easily, "and if
you'll just turn around, I think you'll see some one who is even more
pleased."

Her startled cry of surprise and pleasure at sight of Jeffrey was
abundant proof to the Bishop that the coming of these two to his door
was indeed a coincidence.

"Now," said the Bishop quickly, "you will both sit down and listen. It
concerns both of you deeply. A man is coming here in a moment, General
Chandler. You have both heard of him. He is the political power of
this part of the State. He can, if he will, tell us just how serious
your situation is up there, Jeffrey. Say nothing. Just listen."

Ruth looked from one to the other with surprise and perhaps a little
resentment. For hours she had been bracing her courage for this ordeal
of meeting the Bishop, and here she was merely told to sit down and
listen to something, she did not know what.

The Bishop rose as General Oliver Chandler was ushered into the room
and the two veterans saluted each other with the stiffest of military
precisio