k to the fellow through thick and thin!"

And with this meritorious resolve Sir Richard went back to his
comfortable fire and the paper which he had not, as yet, had the heart
to peruse.

CHAPTER II

On the day following Sir Richard's interview with Anstice the latter
received an unexpected call from the Vicar of Littlefield parish.

The two men were on fairly intimate terms. For the clergyman, as a
scholar and a gentleman, Anstice had a real respect, though the
religious side of Mr. Carey's office, as expressed in his spiritual
ministrations, could hardly be expected to appeal to the man who could
never rid himself of the feeling that God had deliberately failed him at
a critical moment.

Mr. Carey, on his side, had a genuine liking for Anstice, whose skill he
admired with the impersonal admiration which a specialist in one
profession accords to an expert in another vocation. But mingled with
his admiration was an uneasy suspicion that all was not well with the
spiritual health of this most indifferent of his parishioners, and he
was grieved, with the charity of a large and generous nature, by the
gloom, the melancholy, which at times were written only too plainly on
the other's face.

The two men were brought into contact now and again by the very nature
of their respective callings. Soul and body are after all so closely
related that the health of the one depends largely on that of the other;
and at times both priest and physician must take their share in the
gracious task of healing. And on the occasions when their work brought
them together the mutual liking and respect between the two was sensibly
strengthened.

So that it did not cause Anstice more than a passing sensation of
surprise when on this cold and raw November evening the Reverend Fraser
Carey was announced as a visitor.

"Mr. Carey here? Where have you taken him, Alice?"

"Into the drawing-room, sir. The fire's not lighted, but I can put a
match to it in a moment."

"No, don't do that." Anstice hated the little-used drawing-room. "Take
Mr. Carey into my room, and bring up some coffee directly, will you?"

"Yes, sir." The maid, who in common with the rest of the household
regarded Anstice with an admiration not unmixed with awe, withdrew to
carry out her instructions; and hastily finishing an important letter,
Anstice went in search of his rare visitor.

"Hallo, Carey--jolly good of you to look me up on a beastly night like
this."