Mr. Spencer Haddington, the other young man in flannels, was a very rising member of the Conservative party, of which Lady Claudia conceived herself to be a pillar. Identity of political views, in Mr. Haddington's opinion, might well pave the way to a closer union, and this hope accounted for his having consented to pair with Eugene, who sat on the other side, and spend the last week in idleness at Millstead. "Well," said Mr. Robert Territon, "it sounds slow, old man." "Candid family, the Territons," remarked Eugene to the copper-beech. "Who's the fifth? you've only told us four," said Kate, who always stuck to the point. "The fifth is--" Eugene paused a moment, as though preparing a sensation; "the fifth is--Father Stafford." Now it was a remarkable thing that all the ladies looked up quickly and re-echoed the name of the last guest in accents of awe, whereas the men seemed unaffected. "Why, where did you pick _him_ up?" asked Lady Claudia. "Pick him up! I've known Charley Stafford since we were both that high. We were at Harrow and at Oxford together. Rickmansworth knows him, Bob. You didn't come till he'd left." "Why is the gentleman called 'Father'?" said Bob. "Because he is a priest," Miss Chambers answered. "And really, Mr. Territon, you're very ignorant. Everybody knows Father Stafford. You do, Mr. Haddington?" "Yes," said Haddington, "I've heard of him. He's an Anglican Father, isn't he? Had a big parish somewhere down the Mile End Road?" "Yes," said Eugene. "He's an old and a great friend of mine. He's quite knocked up, poor old chap, and had to get leave of absence; and I've made him promise to come and stay here for a good part of the time, to rest." "Then he's not going off again on Monday?" asked Mrs. Lane. "Oh, I hope not. He's writing a book or something, that will keep him from being restless." "How charming!" said Lady Claudia. "Don't you dote on him, Kate? Please, Mr. Lane, may I stay too?" "By the way," said Eugene, "Stafford has taken a vow of celibacy." "I knew that," said Lady Claudia imperturbably. Eugene looked mournful; Bob Territon groaned tragically; but Lady Claudia was quite unmoved, and, turning to the Rector, who sat smiling benevolently on the young people, asked: "Do you know Father Stafford, Dr. Dennis?" "No. I should be much interested in meeting him. I've heard so much of his work and his preaching." "Yes," said Lady Claudia, "and his penances and fasting, and so on." "Poor old Stafford!" said Eugene. "It's quite enough for him that a thing's pleasant to make it wrong." "Not your philosophy, Master Eugene!" said the Rector. "No, Doctor." "But what's this vow?" asked Kate. "There's no such thing as a binding vow of celibacy in the Anglican Church," announced Miss Chambers. "Is that right, Doctor?" said Lady Claudia. "God bless me, my dear," said the Rector, "I don't know. There wasn't in my time."