Miss Crofton shook her head. 'Julia is unattached,' she said.

'I had gathered that to one of the four Miss Baddeley was--not
indifferent,' said Merton.

'I meant,' said Miss Crofton severely, 'that Miss Baddeley is a Christian
unattached. My friend is sensitive, passionate, and deeply religious,
but not a member of any recognised denomination. The clergy--'

'They never leave one alone,' said Julia in a musical voice. It was the
first time that she had spoken. 'Besides--' she added, and paused.

'Besides, dear Julia _is_--entangled with a young clergyman whom, almost
in despair, she consulted on her case--at a picnic,' said Miss Crofton,
adding, 'he is prepared to seek a martyr's fate, but he insists that she
must accompany him.'

'How unreasonable!' murmured Merton, who felt that this recalcitrant
clergyman was probably not the favourite out of the field of four.

'That is what _I_ say,' remarked Miss Crofton. 'It is unreasonable to
expect Julia to accompany him when she has so much work to overtake in
the home field. But that is the way with all of them.'

'All of them!' exclaimed Merton. 'Are all the devoted young men under
vows to seek the crown of martyrdom? Does your friend act as recruiting
sergeant, if you will pardon the phrase, for the noble army of martyrs?'

'_Three_ of them have made the most solemn promises.'