"Come into the fernery and look at my palms and lilies," she said, rising to get her hat. She succeeded in dispersing the anxiety that had settled down upon him as he considered Ananda's case; and once more the convert was forgotten. Her hands were buried in the fronds of a maidenhair when he said suddenly: "Don't do that; it isn't safe; there might be a snake hidden in the fern." She laughed, but did not move her hands. Then he took them in his and drew her away from the pot where he feared danger might lurk. "Eola, will you come and make my house a home for me? I want you; I can't live without you," he concluded with a strong man's passion. She looked up at him suddenly serious. "Think how far I fall short of the ideal! I---- Oh, really you are the most masterful man I ever met. Mr. Alderbury----!" And then her head dropped and she surrendered. "Are you converted to my way of thinking," he said at last. "Or, shall I continue my arguments?" "I am quite converted; quite!" she replied, and her eyes shone. "Then I may tell you a secret. Whatever my figure may be in Mrs. Hulver's opinion, the gaiters and apron are looming in the distance. I heard from England by the last mail that I have been nominated for a colonial bishopric;" and he named the diocese. "What fun it will be to see the dear old woman's face when she hears of it!" He drew her down to a seat among the ferns. "Never mind the old woman. I want the whole of your attention. There is so much to talk about and we have only till to-morrow," he said, already grudging the moments. "Anyway my conversion is complete." "Oh, is it? I am not so sure of that. At any rate I will see that nothing is left undone to make it so!" CHAPTER XXVI Lunch was over; the car stood under the portico breathing gently like a tamed and willing monster held in a metal leash. Alderbury, ready to start, was inclined to yield to a new temptation and linger in his leave-taking. Wenaston politely stayed to see his guest off under the mistaken impression that it was a necessary courtesy. At the same time his ear was open for the sound of the school bell. "I am sorry that you have not succeeded in the object of your visit," he remarked, his conscience still troubling him in the matter of the 'vert. Alderbury and Eola exchanged glances with an amused twinkle of the eye. If there had been failure on one point, on another the missionary had achieved a marked success. "We must leave it alone for the present," he said with a seriousness that was not assumed. "When you are confronted with caste, you stand before invincible plates of steel. To beat against them violently does more harm than good. We must wait for the doors to open of themselves. There can be no forcing them open." "I hope the poor fellow is safe." "And I hope and pray that he is standing firm in the new faith," responded Alderbury quickly. "I used to think that Ananda was weak in character."