'Oh, father, how are you? I did not see you, the room is so dark.' Agnes kissed her father, and with her right hand in her mother's left hand, and her left hand in her father's left she looked at her parents, overcome by her affection for them. But suddenly remembering, she said: 'But I haven't introduced you to Father White. How rude of me! Father White was good enough to see me home. The Mother Abbess was afraid I should get into a wrong train, or get run over in the streets.' The little priest came forward shyly. His black cloth trousers were too short, and did not hide his clumsy laced boots. His features were small and regular, and his light-brown hair grew thick on his little round head, which he carried on one side. He was young, seven or eight and twenty, and so good-looking that some unhappy romantic passion suggested itself as the cause of his long black coat and penitential air. 'I'm sure that we're very much obliged to you for your kindness, Father White,' said Mrs. Lahens. 'I was going to London, and the Mother Abbess asked me to take charge of Miss Lahens, and surrender her safe into your hands.' 'Won't you sit down, Father White?' said Mrs. Lahens. 'I want to talk to you about Agnes. I hope you will stop to lunch.... I wish you would.' 'Thank you, but I'm afraid I cannot. I have an engagement to lunch with the Dominicans.' 'I'm sorry, but you can spare me a few minutes,' said Mrs. Lahens, leading him away. Lord Chadwick came forward and shook hands with Agnes. 'I'm afraid you've forgotten me, Agnes. It is nearly five years---' 'No; I haven't, at least not quite. It was in the country, at the cottage in Surrey. You're the gentleman who used to go out driving with mother.' 'Yes; you're right so far, I used to go out driving with Mrs. Lahens. You used to come too.' 'And very often you used to speak French to mother. I never could understand why--I used to think and think.' 'And do you remember any of the things he used to say in French?' said Mr. Moulton. 'No; I didn't understand French then.' 'But you do now?' 'Yes. Our school is one of the best; we are taught everything.' 'I'm sorry for that. There'll be nothing for us to teach you.' 'For you to teach me?' said Agnes, looking at him inquiringly. At that moment the servant announced Mr. Harding. The Major went forward and welcomed him cordially. 'You see, you've lost your bet,' Moulton whispered to Harding. 'We were very sorry to lose her,' said Father White, 'and she was sorry to leave, but it would not be right for her to take vows to enter a severe order until she has seen the world and had opportunities of knowing if she has a vocation. On that point I shall be very firm with her, you can rely on me, Mrs. Lahens.' 'I'm afraid that she will never care for society. I'm afraid that this experience will not prove of much avail. She'll return to the convent, I shall be sorry to lose her.' 'She's indeed a good girl, and if she finds that she has a vocation--'