with an upward tendency; his lips twitched.

"Opportunity, opportunity," he murmured. "Of course it will come.
I'm not afraid."

"Oh it will come!" chanted his companion. "Only make yourself known
to people of influence, who can appreciate you."

"That's it." Dyce nodded again. "I must move about. For the present,
I have read and thought enough; now I have to make myself felt as a
force."

Mrs. Woolstan gazed at him, in a rapture of faith. His countenance
wore its transforming light; he had passed into a dream of conquest.
By constitution very temperate in the matter of physical indulgence,
Lashmar found exciting stimulus even in a cup of tea. For the
grosser drinks he had no palate; wine easily overcame him; tea and
coffee were the chosen aids of his imagination.

"Yes, I think I shall go down to Hollingford."

"Who," asked Iris, "is the friend who promised to introduce you?"

There was a scarcely perceptible pause before his reply.

"A parson--once my father's curate," he added, vaguely. "A
liberal-minded man, as so many parsons are nowadays."

Iris was satisfied. She gave the project her full approval, and
launched into forecast of possible issues.