"Do you find him much changed?"

Malling shrugged his shoulders.

"Possibly--a little. He may have become rather firmer in manner, a trifle
more decisive."

"Firmer! More decisive, you say!"

"But surely that is only natural, working--as he has done, I understand,
under a man such as yourself for two years."

"Such as myself! Then you think he's caught something of my manner and
way of looking at things? You think--"

"Really, it's difficult to say," interrupted Malling. "He's developed, no
doubt. But very few people don't. I suppose you've trained him."

"I!" said the rector. "I train a man like Chichester!"

In his voice there was a bitter irony.

"Is that you, Mr. Malling?" said the voice of Lady Sophia. "I was lying
down with a book. This is my little room."

She looked pale, almost haggard, as the sunshine fell upon her through
the open window.

Malling took his leave at once and she did not attempt to detain him.