"Rights apart," rejoined Gleed, his colour heightening by a shade, "do you mean to tell me you would seriously think of remaining on the very scene of your shame?" "I didn't say I would do anything. I said I believed I could." "You have done enough harm in the place; surely you wouldn't come back to do more?" "No; if I came at all, it would be to undo a little of the harm--to live it down, Sir Wilton, by God's help!" said Carlton, and his voice shook. "But I do not mean to live here. I have spoken to the bishop, and his advice is against it, though he leaves me free to follow my own judgment. This afternoon I hoped to speak to you. There is another matter which is really a duty, so that I can be in no doubt as to what to do there. It will not involve my remaining on the spot, or obtruding myself in any way. But the church has been burnt down on my account, and I intend to rebuild it before the winter." "The church is mine!" said Gleed, savagely. "I don't want to contradict you, Sir Wilton; but you should really see your lawyer on all these points." "The land is mine!" "Not the church land, Sir Wilton; and the rector is not only entitled, but he may be compelled, to restore and rebuild within certain limits. Your solicitor will turn up the Act and show it you in black and white. And after that I think you will hardly stand between me and my bounden duty." "I don't recognise it as your duty. Your first duty is to resign the living lock-stock-and-barrel--if you've any sense of decency left; but you haven't--not you, you infernal blackguard, you!" Gleed was standing on the drive, his arms akimbo and his fists clenched, his flushed face thrust forward and his stockinged legs planted firmly apart. It was Carlton's lithe figure which had been filling the doorway for some minutes; but at this he strode upon his adversary, and towered over him with a hand that itched.