I haven't seen him for more than two years."

"He's a very good fellow."

"An excellent fellow."

"Perhaps a little bit limited in his outlook. He has been with me at St.
Joseph's exactly two years."

The rector seemed about to say more, then shut his large mouth almost
with a snap. Malling made no remark. He was quite certain that snap was
merely the preliminary to some further remark about Chichester. And so it
proved. As they came to St. Peter's Eaton Square, the rector resumed:

"I often think that it is a man's limitations which make him critical
of others. The more one knows, the wider one's outlook, the readier
one is to shut one's eyes to the foibles, even to the faults, of one's
neighbors. I have tried to impress that upon our friend Chichester."

"Doesn't he agree with you?"

"Well--it's difficult to say, difficult to say. Shall we go by Wilton
Place, or--?"

"Certainly."

"Professor Stepton has talked to me about you from time to time, Mr.
Malling."

"He's a remarkable man," said Malling almost with enthusiasm.

"Yes. He's finding his way to the truth rather by the pathway of science
than by the pathway of faith. But he's a man I respect. And I believe
he'll get out into the light. You've done a great deal of work for him, I
understand, in--in occult directions."

"I have made a good many careful investigations at his suggestion."

"Exactly. Now"--Mr. Harding paused, seemed to make an effort, and
continued--"we know very little even now, with all that has been done,
as to--to the possibilities--I scarcely know how to put it--the
possibilities of the soul."

"Very little indeed," rejoined Malling.

He was considerably surprised by his companion's manner, but was quite
resolved not to help him out.

"The possibilities of one soul, let us say, in connection with another,"
continued the rector, almost in a faltering voice. "I often feel as if
the soul were a sort of mysterious fluid, and that when we what is called
influence another person, we, as it were, submerge his soul fluid in our
own, as a drop of water might be submerged in an ocean."

"Ah!" said Malling, laconically.

Mr. Harding shot a rather sharp glance at him.

"You don't object to my getting on this subject, I hope?" he observed.

"Certainly not."

"Perhaps you think it rather a strange one for a clergyman to select?"

"Oh, no. I have known many clergymen deeply interested in Stepton's
investigations."

Mr. Harding's f