The impulse passed as quickly as it came, fleeing like a phantom of delirium, and in its place the old unutterable bitterness welled back. His apathy reclosed upon him. The carriage turned a corner, and a blaze of light fell upon the shadow of the seat. It swept the white profile and dark figure of Mariana, and he saw the wistfulness in her eyes and the maddening tremor of her mouth. But it did not move him. He was done with such things forever. All at once she turned towards him. "You are not hurt?" "It was nothing." She flinched at the sound of his voice, and the dusk of the cross-street shrouded them again. The hands in her lap fluttered nervously, running along the folds of her dress. Suddenly the carriage stopped, and Nevins jumped down from the box and swung the door open. "Are you all right?" he asked, and his voice was unsteady. "All right," responded Father Algarcife, cheerfully. He stepped upon the sidewalk, staggered slightly, and caught Nevins's arm. Then he turned to the woman within the carriage. "I thank you," he said. He entered the rectory, and Nevins came back and got inside the carriage. "Will you go home?" he asked, with attempted lightness. "The returns from the Assembly districts won't be in till morning, but Ardly is sure." Mariana smiled at him. "Tell him to drive home," she answered. "I am very tired." CHAPTER VII The morning papers reported that the Reverend Anthony Algarcife had been struck by a cab while crossing Broadway, and as he left the breakfast-table Mrs. Ryder's carriage appeared at his door, quickly followed by that of Miss Vernish. By ten o'clock the rectory was besieged and bunches of flowers, with cards attached, were scattered about the hall. Dr. Salvers, coming in a little later, stumbled over a pile of roses, and recovered himself, laughing. "Looks as if they mean to bury you," he remarked. "But how are you feeling? Of course, I knew it was nothing serious or I should have heard." Father Algarcife rose impatiently from his chair. "Of course," he returned. "But all this fuss is sufficient to drive a man mad. Yes, Agnes," to the maid who entered with a tray of carnations and a solicitous inquiry as to his health. "Say I am perfectly well--and please have all these flowers sent to the hospital at once. No, I don't care for any on my desk. I dislike the perfume." Then he turned to Salvers. "I am going out to escape it," he said. "Will you walk with me to the church?" "With pleasure," responded the doctor, cheerfully; and he added: "You will find the church a poor protection, I fancy." As they left the rectory they met Claude Nevins upon the sidewalk. "I wanted to assure myself that it was not a serious accident," he said. "Glad to see you out." Father Algarcife frowned. "If I hear another word of this affair," he replied, irritably, "I shall feel tempted to regret that there is not some cause for the alarm." "And you are quite well?" "Perfectly."