"
"No!" was the answer. "In the present situation there is nothing
for it but to sacrifice my last shred of peace to the one who has
the chief right--in a certain way."
They walked on, and he hardly spoke again till, as they reached the
Rectory, Julius persuaded him to come in and have a cup of tea; and
though he said he must go back and see his friend off, he could not
withstand the sight of Rosamond at the window, fresh and smiling,
with her child in her arms.
"Not a bit the worse for her dissipation," she merrily said. "Oh,
the naughty little thing!--to have begun with the turf, and then the
'Three Pigeons'! Aren't you ashamed of her, papa? Sit down,
Raymond; how horribly tired you do look."
"Ha! What's this?" exclaimed Julius, who had been opening the post-
bag. "Here's a note from the Bishop, desiring me to come to the
palace to-day, if possible."
"Oh!" cried Raymond. "Where is there vacant--isn't there a canonry
or a chaplaincy?"
"Or an archbishopric or two?" said Julius. "The pony can do it, I
think, as there will be a long rest.
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