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re。 During those months of worried study while the threat of a Chasters prosecution hung over him his mind had assimilated almost unknowingly every assimilable element of the Chasters doctrine； he had either assimilated and transmuted it by the alchemy of his own temperament； or he had reacted obviously and filled in Chasters' gaps and pauses。 Chasters could beat a road to the Holy of Holies； and shy at entering it。 But in spite of all the man's roughness； in spite of a curious flavour of baseness and malice about him； the spirit of truth had spoken through him。 God has a use for harsh ministers。 In one man God lights the heart； in another the reason becomes a consuming fire。 God takes his own where he finds it。 He does not limit himself to nice people。 In these matters of evidence and argument； in his contempt for amiable； demoralizing compromise； Chasters served God as Scrope could never hope to serve him。 Scrope's new faith had perhaps been altogether impossible if the Chasters controversy had not ploughed his mind。
For a time Scrope dwelt upon this remarkable realization。 Then as he turned over the pages his eyes rested on a passage of uncivil and ungenerous sarcasm。 Against old Likeman of all people！。。。
What did a girl like Clementina make of all this？ How had she got the book？ From Eleanor？ The stuff had not hurt Eleanor。 Eleanor had been able to take the good that Chasters taught； and reject the evil of his spirit。。。。
He thought of Eleanor； gallantly working out her own salvation。 The world was moving fast to a phase of great freedomfor the young and the bold。。。。 He liked that boy。。。。
His thoughts came back with a start to his wife。 The evening was slipping by and he had momentous things to say to her。 He went and just opened the door。
〃Ella！〃 he said。
〃Did you want me？〃
〃Presently。〃
She put a liberal interpretation upon that 〃presently；〃 so that after what seemed to him a long interval he had to call again； 〃Ella！〃
〃Just a minute；〃 she answered。
（15）
Lady Ella was still； so to speak； a little in the other room when she came to him。
〃Shut that door； please；〃 he said； and felt the request had just that flavour of portentousness he wished to avoid。
〃What is it？ 〃 she asked。
〃I wanted to talk to youabout some things。 I've done something rather serious to…day。 I've made an important decision。〃
Her face became anxious。 〃What do you mean？〃 she asked。
〃You see；〃 he said； leaning upon the mantelshelf and looking down at the gas flames； 〃I've never thought that we should all have to live in this crowded house for long。〃
〃All！〃 she interrupted in a voice that made him look up sharply。 〃You're not going away； Ted？〃
〃Oh； no。 But I hoped we should all be going away in a little time。 It isn't so。〃
〃I never quite understood why you hoped that。〃
〃It was plain enough。〃
〃How？ 〃
〃I thought I should have found something to do that would have enabled us to live in better style。 I'd had a plan。〃
〃What plan？
〃It's fallen through。〃
〃But what plan was it？〃
〃I thought I should be able to set up a sort of broad church chapel。 I had a promise。〃
Her voice was rich with indignation。 〃And she has betrayed you？〃
〃No；〃 he said； 〃I have betrayed her。〃
Lady Ella's face showed them still at cross purposes。 He looked down again and frowned。 〃I can't do that chapel business；〃 he
said。 〃I've had to let her down。 I've got to let you all down。 There's no help for it。 It isn't the way。 I can't have anything to do with Lady Sunderbund and her chapel。〃
〃But；〃 Lady Ella was still perplexed。
〃It's too great a sacrifice。〃
〃Of us？〃
〃No； of myself。 I can't get into her pulpit and do as she wants and keep my conscience。 It's been a horrible riddle for me。 It means plunging into all this poverty for good。 But I can't work with her； Ella。 She's impossible。〃
〃You meanyou're going to break with Lady Sunderbund？〃
〃I must。〃
〃Then； Teddy！〃she was a woman groping for flight amidst intolerable perplexities〃why did you ever leave the church？〃
〃Because I have ceased to believe〃
〃But had it nothing to do with Lady Sunderbund？〃
He stared at her in astonishment。
〃If it means breaking with that woman；〃 she said。
〃You mean；〃 he said； beginning for the first time to comprehend her； 〃that you don't mind the poverty？〃
〃Poverty！〃 she cried。 〃I cared for nothing but the disgrace。〃
〃Disgrace？〃
〃Oh； never mind； Ted！ If it isn't true； if I've been dreaming。。。。〃
Instead of a woman stunned by a life sentence of poverty； he saw his wife rejoicing as if she had heard good news。
Their minds were held for a minute by the sound of some one knocking at the house door； one of the girls opened the door； there was a brief hubbub in the passage and then they heard a cry of 〃Eleanor！〃 through the folding doors。
〃There's Eleanor；〃 he said； realizing he had told his wife nothing of the encounter in Hyde Park。
They heard Eleanor's clear voice： 〃Where's Mummy？ Or Daddy？〃 and then： 〃Can't stay now； dears。 Where's Mummy or Daddy？〃
〃I ought to have told you；〃 said Scrope quickly。 〃I met Eleanor in the Park。 By accident。 She's come up unexpectedly。 To meet a boy going to the front。 Quite a nice boy。 Son of Riverton the doctor。 The parting had made them understand one another。 It's all right； Ella。 It's a little irregular； but I'd stake my life on the boy。 She's very lucky。〃
Eleanor appeared through the folding doors。 She came to business at once。
〃I promised you I'd come back to supper here； Daddy；〃 she said。 〃But I don't want to have supper here。 I want to stay out late。〃
She saw her mother look perplexed。 〃Hasn't Daddy told you？〃
〃But where is young Riverton？〃
〃He's outside。〃
Eleanor became aware of a broad chink in the folding doors that was making the dining…room an auditorium for their dialogue。 She shut them deftly。
〃I have told Mummy；〃 Scrope explained。 〃Bring him in to supper。 We ought to see him。〃
Eleanor hesitated。 She indicated her sisters beyond the folding doors。 〃They'll all be watching us； Mummy；〃 she said。 〃We'd be uncomfortable。 And besides
〃But you can't go out and dine with him alone！〃
〃Oh； Mummy！ It's our only chance。〃
〃Customs are changing；〃 said Scrope。
〃But can they？〃 asked Lady Ella。
〃I don't see why not。〃
The mother was still doubtful； but she was in no mood to cross her husband that night。 〃It's an exceptional occasion；〃 said Scrope； and Eleanor knew her point was won。 She became radiant。 〃I can be late？〃
Scrope handed her his latch…key without a word。
〃You dear kind things；〃 she said； and went to the door。 Then turned and came back and kissed her father。 Then she kissed her mother。 〃It is so kind of you；〃 she said； and was gone。 They listened to her passage through a storm of questions in the dining…room。
〃Three months ago that would have shocked me；〃 said Lady Ella。
〃You haven't seen the boy；〃 said Scrope。
〃But the appearances！〃
〃Aren't we rather breaking with appearances？〃 he said。
〃And he goes to…morrowperhaps to get killed；〃 he added。 〃A lad like a schoolboy。 A young thing。 Because of the political foolery that we priests and teachers have suffered in the place of the Kingdom