XXVIII

The conversation which arose between the Bishop and Lady Constantine was
of that lively and reproductive kind which cannot be ended during any
reasonable halt of two people going in opposite directions. He turned,
and walked with her along the laurel-screened lane that bordered the
churchyard, till their voices died away in the distance. Swithin then
aroused himself from his thoughtful regard of them, and went out of the
churchyard by another gate.

Seeing himself now to be left alone on the scene, Louis Glanville
descended from his post of observation in the arbour. He came through
the private doorway, and on to that spot among the graves where the
Bishop and St. Cleeve had conversed. On the tombstone still lay the
coral bracelet which Dr. Helmsdale had flung down there in his
indignation; for the agitated, introspective mood into which Swithin had
been thrown had banished from his mind all thought of securing the
trinket and putting it in his pocket.

Louis picked up the little red scandal-breeding thing, and while walking
on with it in his hand he observed Tabitha Lark approaching the church,
in company with the young blower whom she had gone in search of to
inspire her organ-practising within. Louis immediately put together,
with that rare diplomatic keenness of which he was proud, the little
scene he had witnessed between Tabitha and Swithin during the
confirmation, and the Bishop's stern statement as to where he had found
the bracelet. He had no longer any doubt that it belonged to her.

'Poor girl!' he said to himself, and sang in an undertone--

'Tra deri, dera,
L'histoire n'est pas nouvelle!'

When she drew nearer Louis called her by name. She sent the boy into the
church, and came forward, blushing at having been called by so fine a
gentleman. Louis held out the bracelet.

'Here is something I have found, or somebody else has found,' he said to
her. 'I won't state where. Put it away, and say no more about it. I
will not mention it either. Now go on into the church where you are
going, and may Heaven have mercy on your soul, my dear.'

'Thank you, sir,' said Tabitha, with some perplexity, yet inclined to be
pleased, and only recognizing in the situation the fact that Lady
Constantine's humorous brother was making her a present.

'You are much obliged to me?'

'O yes!'

'Well, Miss Lark, I've discovered a secret, you see.'

'What may that be, Mr. Glanville?'