He is
not a deliberate traitor--but a born one."

As Sara spoke the double doors were thrown open.

Lord Reckage was announced.

"Beauclerk!" she exclaimed.

His lordship, self-absorbed, did not perceive her confusion--which she
was too young to dissemble perfectly.

"The man told me that you were here," he said, addressing Orange and
seating himself by Sara. "I call this luck--finding you both together. I
have just been with my Committee. They always expect the worst of me
now, and they are always cheerful in the expectation."

Sara began to disentangle some silk fringe on her skirt; she did not
look up, and she offered no comment.

"What is the matter now?" asked Robert.

"They want to get rid of me. You see, one might practise very
considerably on the credulity of the members if one chose, and these
fellows on the Executive wish me to take a cautious line with regard to
Dr. Temple's nomination.[Footnote: Mr. Gladstone's nomination of Dr.
Temple to the See of Exeter.] It is all very well for Pusey to write,
'Do you prefer your party to Almighty God and to the souls of men?' But,
as Aumerle says, Pusey is not in the House of Commons. An attack on
Temple will be highly unpopular. We have sounded opinion in various
quarters, and we receive the unanimous reply--'Have nothing to do with
it.' There is a feeling in the clubs, too, that vapid, colourless
orthodoxy is not wanted in England. Healthy disagreement within limits
suits us. The question is, then: Ought I to go against this strong tide
and get myself disliked?"

"Yes," said Sara at once.

"You think so?"

"Beyond a doubt."

"Of course," said his lordship, readily enough, "a combination in
defence of any article of the faith is a noble thing. My original idea
was to get up a combination of High and Low and Broad Churchmen, and
make a stand on purely legal grounds. For instance, how can the bishops,
_without previous explanation_, consecrate one lying under the censure
of their House? That is all. There is nothing offensive in that. We
merely ask for an explanation: we offer no judgment: we state no
prejudice. If Dr. Temple intends to withdraw his paper from _Essays and
Reviews_--well and good. Personally, he bears the highest character. He
would be, in many ways, an acquisition to the Church. But does he
himself believe in the Church as a Divine institution--mark you, a
_Divine_ institution? Neither the _Outs_ nor the _Ins_, I should think,
could obje