rit of youth in him to that same spirit
resident in her, but the deeper, more compelling, more sonorous call
from the knowledge of tragedy in him to that same terrible knowledge
now first made evident in her.--And here Richard's heart--in spite of
pity, in spite of tenderness which would have borne a hundred miseries
to save her five minutes' discomfort--sang _Te Deum_, and that lustily
enough! For by this revelation of the infelicity of her state, his
whole relation to, and duty towards her changed and took on a greater
freedom. To pour forth worship and offers of service at the feet of a
happy woman is at once an impertinence to her and a shame to yourself.
But to pour forth such worship, such offers of service, at the feet of
an unhappy woman--age-old sophistry, so often ruling the speech and
actions of men to their fatal undoing!--this is praiseworthy and
legitimate, a matter not of privilege merely, but of obligation to
whoso would claim to be truly chivalrous.

The perception of his larger liberty, and the consequences following
thereon, kept Richard silent till Sandyfield rectory, the
squat-towered, Georgian church and the black-headed, yew trees in the
close-packed churchyard adjoining, the neighbouring farm and its goodly
show of golden-gray wheat-ricks were left behind, and the carriage
entered on the flat, furze-dotted expanse of Sandyfield common. Flocks
of geese, arising from damp repose upon the ragged autumn turf, hissed
forth futile declarations of war. A gipsy caravan painted in staring
colours, and hung all over with heath-brooms and basket-chairs, caused
the horses to swerve. Parties of home-going school-children backed on
to the loose gravel at the roadside, bobbing curtsies or pulling
forelocks, staring at the young man and his companion, curious and half
afraid. For in the youthful, bucolic mind a mystery surrounded Richard
Calmady and his goings and comings, causing him to rank with crowned
heads, ghosts, the Book of Daniel, funerals, the Northern Lights, and
kindred matters of dread fascination. So wondering eyes pursued him
down the road.

And wondering eyes, as the minutes passed, glanced up at him from
beneath the sweeping plumes and becoming shadow of the cavalier's hat.
For his prolonged silence rendered Madame de Vallorbes anxious. Had she
spoken unadvisedly with her tongue? Had her words sounded crude and of
questionable delicacy? Given his antecedents and upbringing, Richard
was bound t