MICH. I couldn't live there. Every time I go up for a day or two I come back more and more sickened and frightened and disheartened. Besides, you forget my Eastern studies. They are my real work. I couldn't pursue them in the hurry and fever of London. MARK. How are you getting on with the Arabic translations? MICH. Slowly but surely. Andrew is invaluable to me. In spite of his bringing up, he has the true instincts of the scholar. MARK. Well, you know best. But we want you in London. You'd soon raise the funds for restoring the Minster. MICH. (_shakes his head_). I can't go round with the hat. MARK. How's the work getting on? MICH. Very slowly. I'm afraid I shall never live to finish it. By the bye, I received fifty pounds anonymously only yesterday. MARK. Have you any idea where it came from? MICH. No. The Bank advised me that it had been paid to my credit by a reader of my "Hidden Life," who desired to remain anonymous. MARK. The book is having an enormous influence. Nothing else is talked about. And it has gained you one very rich proselyte--this Mrs. Lesden. She's living here, isn't she? MICH. Yes. Curious woman---- MARK. Have you seen much of her? MICH. I called, of course. I've met her once or twice at dinner. She has called here three or four times, and wasted several good hours for me. MARK. How wasted? MICH. Kept me from my work. I wish the woman would take herself back to London. MARK. Why? MICH. Her frivolity and insincerity repel me. No--not insincerity. I recall that. For she said one or two things that seemed to show a vein of true, deep feeling. But on the whole I dislike her--I think I dislike her very much. MARK. Why? MICH. She comes regularly to church---- MARK. Surely there's no very great harm in that---- MICH. No; but I don't know whether she's mocking, or criticising, or worshipping; or whether she's merely bored, and thinking that my surplice is not enough starched, or starched too much. MARK. She's very rich, and would be an immense help to our movement. I should try and cultivate her. MICH. I can't cultivate people. What do you think of her? MARK. A very clever society woman, all the more clever that she was not born in society. MICH. What do you know of her? MARK. Merely what I wrote you in my letter. That she was the only daughter of an Australian millionaire. Her great-grandfather, I believe, was an Australian convict. She was sent to England to be educated, went back to Australia, married, lost her husband and father, came back to England a widow, took a house in Mayfair, entertained largely, gave largely to charities, read your book, "The Hidden Life," came down to see the country round here, made up her mind to live here, and wanted an introduction to you--which I gave her. _Enter FANNY, announcing SIR LYOLF FEVERSHAM, an English country gentleman, about sixty-five, a little old-fashioned in manners and dress. Exit FANNY._