ness-and a wonderful hope, all so great and so near to us; and he is the true poet and the true painter who can flash this into our souls. And if he does this, it does not matter how, whether with sunlight or with lightning. And all awkwardnesses are more than forgiven the man who can do this, just as we will excuse the roughness of the axe that cleaves a way for us, or, at least, for our eyes, out of our dungeon into God's heaven."

The light growing large in her deep eyes, and the rich tint of her cheek glowing deeper, her hair drawn from the white temples, and hanging back in heavy dark braids, a suitable background to her finely-expressive features,-the fair Italian might have been one of the Greek goddesses of old. Meeting Armstrong's look full of sympathy and apprehension, she dropped her gaze again, and resumed her brush.

"But," persisted Flora, "what the painting was teaching, seemed to me to be a piece of foolish superstition. I wish I could remember the quotation. Can you, Madeleine? You said it

over a great many times."

"Yes, I think so:-'Of a knight who was merciful to his enemy when he might have destroyed him; and how the image of Christ kissed him, in token that his acts had pleased God.' Now, that could not have been true; it must be all Popish legend."

"Indeed, Miss Mossingford, I venture to think it is all true. Not in the mere outward action, but doubtless to some knight's inner apprehension, and always true everywhere, according to the unseen actual of things. He who denies the baseness of his nature and is merciful, is at one with the Spirit of God, and with the Spirit of the crucified Christ, and so to him the all-present Spirit of God causes images, or trees, or stones, to impress him with divine messages, and to his spirit come kisses from the unseen Christ, for all things are one in the one living God."

Lorisse had never heard talk at all like this, except from her father, an Italian noble, who, for his fair country's sake, had languished long in prison, and lost half his wealth. And Cellini, perhaps, had not put such spiritual fervour into his talk, for he was one of the modern hea

then, as some people call them, who can believe in no dogmas, but who can live and die for a After what she could not but

noble cause. esteem the silly conventionalism of most of the religious people, Catholic or Protestant, whom she had ever known, the wide liberality and pure hope which characterized Armstrong's talk, came to her like the change from a narrow room to a wide landscape full of sunlight and cool breezes.

After they had talked about the small volume of poems by Miss Ingelow which had pleased them, and about Newman's 'Apologia,' and the papers of the Competition Wallah,' and had devoted a longer time to the volume of Browning's just published, 'Dramatis Personæ,' and after Armstrong had given some various parish information to Mrs. Mossingford, the visit came to an end.

As Armstrong walked hastily home, he reminded himself of Miss Flora's information, that the fair Italian was engaged to be married to Ronald Mossingford.

127

CHAPTER X.

"But there are others, the chief poignancy of whose sufferings comes from an irrepressible doubt of right, a burning passion to penetrate the impenetrable meaning of their anguish. They might gird themselves up to endure, but they cannot tolerate the unreason, the waste, the seeming wrong.... There is one condition under which all know that pain is not truly an evil, but a good. This is when pain is willingly borne for another's sake. Its entire character is altered then."-The Mystery of Pain.

ARMSTRONG did not fail of his appointment for croquet on the Saturday morning. It is questionable whether six months ago he would have cared to find time from his duties for such an engagement; but now he felt that he needed, even for health's sake, some distractions from the severe anxieties of his critical studies, and from the constant thought of the darkness that was slowly setting in over his soul, and over his life. And there could be no harm in this simple relax

ation with these delightful children; and if it was pleasant to him to catch again the full gaze of Lorisse's deep eyes, it was strange indeed if he might not permit himself so simple a gratification. Only Alfred Boutell would be there, with one or two of his sisters. When they had a large croquet party he should not come. But this time-he went.

There was one addition to the small party in the person of gallant Captain Jermyn, who had for several seasons devoted himself to croquet as a change from billiards, and who was reckoned one of the best players at both games in all the society of Hamerton. Miss Flora was in high glee, expecting some good play. They agreed that it would be a pity to break up into two sets, though the party was rather large for one. Flora, with her extreme vivacity, easily made herself mistress of the ceremonies. As soon as there were enough hearers on the lawn, she delivered herself very prettily of what seemed like a set speech; but really, words were so ready to the girl, that possibly it was all said straight out as she thought it.