has come upon me so
suddenly--I had not thought--I must have time to think it over. Later on
we will talk more definitely. But, for just now, I want you to remember
one thing. If you get into trouble over this, if you--die, you will
break my heart."

"Padre----"

"No; let me finish what I have to say. I told you once that I have no
one in the world but you. I think you do not fully understand what that
means. It is difficult when one is so young; at your age I should not
have understood. Arthur, you are as my--as my--own son to me. Do you
see? You are the light of my eyes and the desire of my heart. I would
die to keep you from making a false step and ruining your life. But
there is nothing I can do. I don't ask you to make any promises to me; I
only ask you to remember this, and to be careful. Think well before
you take an irrevocable step, for my sake, if not for the sake of your
mother in heaven."

"I will think--and--Padre, pray for me, and for Italy."

He knelt down in silence, and in silence Montanelli laid his hand on the
bent head. A moment later Arthur rose, kissed the hand, and went softly
away across the dewy grass. Montanelli sat alone under the magnolia
tree, looking straight before him into the blackness.

"It is the vengeance of God that has fallen upon me," he thought, "as it
fell upon David. I, that have defiled His sanctuary, and taken the Body
of the Lord into polluted hands,--He has been very patient with me, and
now it is come. 'For thou didst it secretly, but I will do this thing
before all Israel, and before the sun; THE CHILD THAT IS BORN UNTO THEE
SHALL SURELY DIE.'"

CHAPTER II.

MR. JAMES BURTON did not at all like the idea of his young step-brother
"careering about Switzerland" with Montanelli. But positively to forbid
a harmless botanizing tour with an elderly professor of theology would
seem to Arthur, who knew nothing of the reason for the prohibition,
absurdly tyrannical. He would immediately attribute it to religious or
racial prejudice; and the Burtons prided themselves on their
enlightened tolerance. The whole family had been staunch Protestants
and Conservatives ever since Burton & Sons, ship-owners, of London and
Leghorn, had first set up in business, more than a century back. But
they held that English gentlemen must deal fairly, even with Papists;
and when the head of the house, finding it dull to remain a widower, had
married the pretty Catholic governess of his young