t, divided, and broke up into small pools of
conversation. Miss Tresilyan and her chaperone joined the Molyneux
party, just as Fanny was saying to Keene that "she hoped he would profit
by much in the sermon that was evidently meant for him."

"_Was_ he personal?" the latter asked, so indifferently; "I didn't
notice it. Well, I suppose it amuses him, and it certainly does not hurt
me." (Mrs. Danvers sniffed indignantly--a form of protest to which her
nose, from its construction, was eminently adapted; but he went on
before she could speak) "Miss Tresilyan, will you allow perhaps the
unworthiest member of the congregation to express an opinion that the
singing went off superbly?"

Her beautiful eyes glittered somewhat disdainfully. "Thank you, you are
very good. But I think you have hardly a right to be critical. I should
like to have some one's opinion who is _really_ interested in the
chapel. It was scarcely worth taking so much trouble to appear so the
other day. You know what Liston said about the penny? 'It is not the
value of the thing, but one hates to be imposed upon.' Delusions are not
so agreeable as illusions, Major Keene."

Royston was very much pleased. He liked above all things to see a woman
stand up to him defiantly; indeed, if they were worth "setting to with,"
he always tried to get them to spar as soon as possible, to find out if
they had any idea of hitting straight. He did not betray his
satisfaction, though, as he answered quite calmly, "Pardon me, I could
not be so impertinent as to attempt a 'delusion' on so short an
acquaintance. I deny the charge distinctly. I believe that residence in
Dorade, and a certain amount of subscription, constitute a member of Mr.
Fullarton's congregation, and give one a franchise. He has not thought
fit to excommunicate me publicly as yet. I really was interested in the
subject, for I fully meant to go to church this morning, and I mean to
go again."

Insensibly they had walked on in advance of the others. She shook her
head with a saucy incredulity--"I am no believer in sudden conversions."

"Nor I; I was not speaking of such; but I am very fond of good singing,
and I would go any where to hear it. Did our chaplain include hypocrisy
among my other disqualifications for decent society last night? I
understand he is good enough to furnish a catalogue of them to all new
comers."

Cecil certainly had not abused him then; so there was not the slightest
necessity for