e people round him he had
learned once more that greed was awake in England.

* * * * *

It was a somewhat dismal ride that he had this day. The sky was heavy
and overcast, it rained constantly, and the roads were in a more dreary
condition even than usual. He splashed along through the mud with his
servants behind him, wrapped in his cloak; and his own thoughts were not
of a sufficient cheerfulness to compensate for the external discomforts.
His political plane of thought was shot by a personal idea. He guessed
that he would have to commit himself in a manner that he had never done
before; and was not wholly confident that he would be able to explain
matters satisfactorily to Beatrice. Besides, the particular district to
which he was appointed included first Lewes, where Chris would have an
eye on his doings, and secondly the little Benedictine house of Rusper,
where his sister Margaret had been lately professed; and he wondered
what exactly would be his relation with his own family when his work was
done.

But for the main object of his visitation he had little but sympathy. It
was good, he thought, that a scouring should be made of these idle
houses, and their inmates made more profitable to the commonwealth. And
lastly, whether or no he sympathised, it would be fatal to his career
to refuse the work offered to him.

As he did not feel very confident at first, he had arranged to meet with
Dr. Layton's party at the Premonstratension Abbey of Durford, situated
at the borders of Sussex and Hampshire, and there learn the exact
methods to be employed in the visitation; but it was a long ride, and he
took two days over it, sleeping on the way at Waverly in the Cistercian
House. This had not yet been visited, as Dr. Layton was riding up
gradually from the west country, but the rumour of his intentions had
already reached there, and Ralph was received with a pathetic deference
as one of the representatives of the Royal Commission.

The Abbot was a kindly nervous man, and welcomed Ralph with every sign
of respect at the gate of the abbey, giving contradictory orders about
the horses and the entertainment of the guests to his servants who
seemed in very little awe of him.

After mass and breakfast on the following morning the Abbot came into
the guest-house and begged for a short interview.

* * * * *

He apologised first for the poorness of the entertainme