"Sybil will have a room out. I would a hundred times rather that you should write your sermons in your own home and near me than that you should get a room elsewhere. Do you like it?" "Like it? I should think so." Then his face became grave. "But where are my letters and papers?" he asked anxiously. "Perfectly safe. I have put an elastic band round the letters and they are in exactly the same order as you left them, and so are your other papers which you will find in the long top drawer. Then I have told Polly that she is never to come into the study, but that I will see to it. So you can leave everything about, dear; or lock the room up when you are out." Luke busy among his papers looked up with a smile. "Are you sure you would not mind me doing that? I can't tell you what a relief it would be to me to know that nothing has been moved." "I will dust it early in the morning before your letters come," said Rachel, "and then you will be sure that you can leave everything about and it won't be interfered with." His smile of pleasure was enough reward for Rachel. [Illustration] CHAPTER VII. RACHEL CONFIDES IN THE BISHOP. The Bishop was in his garden, surrounded by the Clergy of his diocese and their wives. He was a grey-haired man, upright and spare of build. His face was full of kindness and love as he went among his guests, entering into their difficulties and encouraging them in their work. It was his annual garden party, and he looked forward to it almost as much as did his clergy. Being a widower, had it not been for his work he would have felt the Palace lonely. It was an old and hoary building, and lay in the shadow of the cathedral; but the greater part of the garden was full of sunshine, and wherever the Bishop was, there was brightness and the atmosphere of love and fellowship. He now stood glancing around as if looking for someone; then he caught sight of Rachel who was making her way swiftly towards him, her face alight with love and eagerness. The child is happy, he thought gladly, and stretched out both his hands in welcome. "I was looking for you," he said, "and was hoping that you and your good husband were not going to play me false. Where is he?" "He's coming by the next train, in half an hour's time, but I was so impatient to see you that I told him I could not wait. Some parishioner has been taken ill and he had to go and see him. But I simply had to come." "Now," said the Bishop, "I want to know all about your dear mother, and about your new life. We will go towards the nut walk where we shall not be interrupted. I also want to show you the Palace. I promised to do that in the old days I remember." "It's perfectly delightful to talk to anyone who remembers those old days," said Rachel, with a slight catch in her voice, "and specially with you of all people. How father loved you."