was
sorry, and what was more, he had every desire to reform. But Agnes
remained firm, although she had probably never been so nearly in love
with him as she was on the day when she returned all his charming
letters and the ring and his photograph. It was a trying moment. She
was ordered abroad, and she spent the winter at Rome, where she read
ancient history and visited churches and excited a great deal of
admiration. Mrs. Rennes and David were also at Rome. The three met at
the house of an irreproachable Marchesa. They became friends. Miss
Carillon's aunt, who was a maiden lady with means, succumbed to the
fascinating eloquence of an amateur _connoisseur_ of antique gems. In
her new character of _fiancee_, she found it inconvenient to chaperon a
young niece. She joined a widowed friend, and gladly assented to the
suggestion that dear Agnes should visit Mrs. Rennes in Paris. The Bishop
saw no impediment to the plan. He had been at Oxford with the late
Archibald Rennes, an odd fellow but high-minded. Mrs. Rennes was the
daughter of a General Hughes-Drummond. Every one knew the
Hughes-Drummonds. They were very good people indeed. The Bishop hoped
that Agnes would enjoy herself, give her kind friend as little trouble
as possible, and come home fully restored in spirits. He forgot David.
It may be that others omitted to mention him. The Bishop was not pleased
when the rumour reached him that this artist was included in the party.
What were his habits? What were his prospects? Were his artistic talents
such that he might reasonably hope to become a Royal Academician and
maintain an establishment? What _class_ of pictures did he paint? Were
they lofty in tone? Did they exalt and purify the mind? Would they make
good engravings--such engravings as one might hang on one's walls? The
correspondence and the questions were endless. David spent a week end at
the Episcopal Palace, and behaved so well that he became frightened at
his own capabilities for John Bullism. He was a little annoyed, too, to
find himself at ease in a British home circle. The Bishop was, at all
events, satisfied. Agnes was enchanted, and, transfigured by unconscious
passion, looked more beautiful than ever. David enjoyed the services in
the cathedral; he liked the quiet Sunday afternoon, he was impressed by
Dr. Carillon's real earnestness in the pulpit. The visit was a great
success. Before he left, he begged Agnes to write to him "when she could
spare the tim