said so to the Archdeacon the other day, and he said that there was
nothing stagnant about Windlow."

"No, I am quite sure there is not," said Howard politely.

"It's very good of you to say so, Howard," said Mr. Sandys
delightedly. "Really quite a compliment! And I assure you, you
don't know what a pleasure it is to have a talk like this with a
man like yourself, so well-read, so full of ideas. I envy Jack his
privileges. I do indeed. Now dear old Pembroke was not like that in
my days. There was no one I could talk to, as Jack tells me he
talks to you. A man like yourself is a vast improvement on the old
type of don, if I may say so. I'm very free, you see! And so you
think Jack might do well in commerce? Well, I quite approve. All I
want is that he should not be out of touch with human beings. I'm
not a metaphysician, but it seems to me that that is what we are
here for--touch with humanity--of course on Church of England
lines. I'm tolerant, I hope, and can see the good side of other
creeds; but give me something comprehensive, and that is the glory
of our English Church. Well, you have given me a lot to think of,
Howard; I must just take it all away and think it over. It's well
to do that, I think? Not to be in a hurry, try to see all round a
question? That is my line always!"

They walked into the drawing-room together; and Howard felt
curiously drawn to the warm-hearted and voluble man. Perhaps it was
for the sake of his children, he thought. There must be something
fine about a man who had brought up two such children--but that was
not all; the Vicar was enthusiastic; he revelled in life, he adored
life; and Howard felt that there was a real fund of sense and even