"It seems a little hard that there is nobody but Alan to do anything! And how long is it to go on?" The priest bent forward. "You mean----?" "How long will my stepdaughter let it go on?" said Augustina impatiently. "She will be mistress here directly." The eyes of her companion flinched, as though something had struck him. But he hastened to say: "Do not let us doubt, my dear lady, that the soul of Miss Fountain will sooner or later be granted to our prayers." "But there is not the smallest sign of it," cried Augustina. And she in her turn bent towards her companion, unable to resist the temptation of these priestly ears so patiently inclined to her. "And yet, Father, she isn't happy!--though Alan gives way to her in everything. It's not a bit like a girl in love--you'd expect her to be thinking about her clothes, and the man, and her housekeeping at least--if she won't think about--well! those other things that we should all wish her to think about. While we were at the sea, and Alan used to come down every now and then to stay near us in lodgings, it was all right. They never argued or disputed; they were out all day; and really I thought my brother began to look ten years younger. But now--since we have come back--of course my brother has all his affairs, and all his Church business to look after, and Laura doesn't seem so contented--nearly. It would be different if she cared for any of his interests--but I often think she hates the orphans! She is really naughty about them. And then the Sisters--oh dear!"--Augustina gave a worried sigh--"I don't think the Reverend Mother can have managed it at all well." Father Bowles said that he understood both from the Reverend Mother and Sister Angela that they had made very great efforts to secure Miss Fountain's friendly opinion. "Well, it didn't succeed, that's all I can say," replied Augustina fretfully. "And I don't know what they'll do after November." November had been fixed for the marriage, which was to take place at Cambridge. Father Bowles hung his hands between his knees and looked down upon them in gentle meditation. "Your brother seems still very much attached----" "Attached!" Augustina was silent. In reality she spent half her days in secretly marvelling how such a good man as Alan could allow himself to be so much in love. "If only someone had ever warned me that this might happen--when I was coming back to live here," she said, in her most melancholy voice; and clasping her thin hands she looked sadly down the garden paths, while her poor head shook and jerked under the influence of the thoughts--so far from agreeable!--with which it was filled. There was a little silence. Then Father Bowles broke it. "And our dear Squire does nothing to try and change Miss Fountain's mind towards the Church?" he asked, looking vaguely round the corner all the time. Nothing--so Augustina declared.