Nor was there any of that old dreary, half-contemptuous tone and manner which had often made her think he was only conforming to please her, and shrinking from coming to close quarters, where he might confess opinions that would grieve her. He was manifestly in earnest, listening and joining in the services as if they had a new force to him. Perhaps they had the more from the very absence of the ordinary externals, and with nothing to disturb the individual personality of Clement’s low, earnest, and reverent tones. There were tears on his eyelashes as he rose up, bent over, and kissed his Cherie. And that evening, while Clement and the two nieces walked farther, and listened to the Benediction in the little Austrian church, Gerald sat under a linden-tree with his aunt, and in the fullness of his heart told her how things stood between him and Dolores. Geraldine had never been as much attracted by Dolores as by Gillian and Mysie, but she was greatly touched by hearing that the meeting and opening of affection had been on the discovery that Gerald was probably nameless and landless, and that the maiden was bent on casting in her lot with him whatever his fate might be. He murmured to himself the old lines, with a slight alteration-- “I could not love thee, dear, so much, Loved I not justice more.” “Yes, indeed, Cherie, our affection is a very different and better thing than it would be if I were only the rich young squire sure of my position.” “I am sure it is, my dear. I honour and love her for being my boy’s brave comforter--comforter in the true sense. I see now what has helped you to be so brave and cheery. But what will her father say?” “He will probably be startled, and--and will object, but it would be a matter of waiting anyway, the patience that the Vicar preaches, and we have made up our minds. I’ll fight my own way; she to prepare by her Cambridge course to come and work with me, as we can do so much better among the people--among them in reality, and by no pretence.” “Ah! don’t speak as if you gave up your cause.” “Well, I won’t, if you don’t like to hear it, Cherie,” he said, smiling; “but anyway you will be good to Dolores.” “Indeed I will do my best, my dear. I am sure you and she, whatever happens, have the earnest purpose and soul to do all the good you can, whether from above or on the same level, and that makes the oneness of love.” “Thank you, Cherie carissima. You see the secret of our true bond.” “One bond to make it deeper must be there. The love of God beneath the love of man.” CHAPTER XXVI. -- THE SILENT STAR Then the traveller in the dark Thanks you for your tiny spark; He would not know which way to go If you did not twinkle so.--JANE TAYLOR.