ked his abundant white hair. Yet his sigh
bore a hope. "I learned this morning," he said musingly, "that my
recent labors with the Dowager Duchess of Altern in England have not
been vain. She has become a communicant of Holy Church."

"What!" exclaimed the Beaubien. "The Duchess of Altern--sister of Mrs.
J. Wilton Ames? Why, she was a high Anglican--"

"Only a degree below the true Church, Madam. Her action is but
anticipatory of a sweeping return of the entire Anglican Church to the
true fold. And I learn further," he went on, "that the Duchess will
spend the winter in New York with her sister. Which means, of course,
an unusually gay season here, does it not?"

The Beaubien quickly recovered from her astonishment. "Well,
Monsignor," she laughed, "for once you really are interesting. What
else have you to divulge? That Mrs. Ames herself will be the next
convert? Or perhaps J. Wilton?"

"No--at least, not yet. But one of your most intimate friends will
become a communicant of Holy Saints next Sunday."

"One of my most intimate friends!" The Beaubien set the spaniels down
on the floor. "Now, my dear Monsignor, you are positively refreshing.
Who is he?"

The man laughed softly. "Am I not right when I insist that you have
wandered far, dear Madam? It is not 'he,' but 'she,' your dear friend,
Mrs. Hawley-Crowles."

The Beaubien's mouth opened wide and she sat suddenly upright and
gazed blankly at her raconteur. The man went on, apparently oblivious
of the effect his information had produced. "Her beautiful ward, who
is to make her bow to society this winter, is one of us by birth."

"Then you have been at work on Mrs. Hawley-Crowles and her ward, have
you?" said the Beaubien severely, and there was a threatening note in
her voice.

"Why," returned Monsignor easily, "the lady sent for me to express her
desire to become affiliated with the Church. We do not seek her. And I
have had no conversation with the girl, I assure you."

The Beaubien reflected. Then:

"Will you tell me why, Monsignor, Mrs. Hawley-Crowles takes this
unusual step?"

"Unusual! Is it unusual, Madam, for a woman who has seen much of the
world to turn from it to the solace and promise of the Church?"

The Beaubien laughed sharply. "For women like Mrs. Hawley-Crowles it
is, decidedly. What was her price, Monsignor?"

"Madam! You astonish me!"

"Monsignor, I do not. I know Mrs. Hawley-Crowles. And by this time you
do, too. She is the last w