to do his duty. I am sure you agree with me?"

"Certainly," said Kenelm, with an emphasis which startled the
merchant. "That is an admirable maxim of yours: it seems a
commonplace, yet how often, when it is put into our heads, it strikes
as a novelty! A duty may be a very difficult thing, a very
disagreeable thing, and, what is strange, it is often a very invisible
thing. It is present,--close before us, and yet we don't see it;
somebody shouts its name in our ears, 'Duty,' and straight it towers
before us a grim giant. Pardon me if I leave you: I can't stay to
dine. Duty summons me elsewhere. Make my excuses to Mrs. Braefield."

Before Mr. Braefield could recover his self-possession, Kenelm had
vaulted over a stile and was gone.



CHAPTER VI.

KENELM walked into the shop kept by the Somerses, and found Jessie
still at the counter. "Give me back my knap sack. Thank you," he
said, flinging the knapsack across his shoulders. "Now, do me a
favour. A portmanteau of mine ought to be at the station. Send for
it, and keep it till I give further directions. I think of going to
Oxford for a day or two. Mrs. Somers, one more word with you. Think,
answer frankly, are you, as you said this morning, thoroughly happy,
and yet married to the man you loved?"

"Oh, so happy!"