"But if he seriously objects, I think you had
better not defy his wishes; you may find your
position at home made much harder if----"

"Not a bit harder!" Arthur broke in passionately.
"They always did hate me and always
will--it doesn't matter what I do. Besides, how
can James seriously object to my going away with
you--with my father confessor?"

"He is a Protestant, remember. However, you
had better write to him, and we will wait to hear
what he thinks. But you must not be impatient,
my son; it matters just as much what you do,
whether people hate you or love you."

The rebuke was so gently given that Arthur
hardly coloured under it. "Yes, I know," he
answered, sighing; "but it is so difficult----"

"I was sorry you could not come to me on
Tuesday evening," Montanelli said, abruptly introducing
a new subject. "The Bishop of Arezzo
was here, and I should have liked you to meet
him."

"I had promised one of the students to go to a
meeting at his lodgings, and they would have been
expecting me."