He paused, and looked at her eagerly. His sallow face was flushed, his eyes anxious, his hands trembling violently. 'It is a very serious question, Mr Nevill.' 'A very serious question indeed, for you, for her, for me. I am so much impressed by the gravity of this interview that I do not feel at all self-possessed. The excitement of the moment has quite changed my nature.' Mrs Osborne looked at him long, and not unkindly. 'He is sincere, at all events,' she thought. She said:-- 'George had given me to understand you would say something of this kind to me, and he has also told me matters of detail, matters of business which are satisfactory so far as I have heard. But in a grave affair of this kind we ought to be very careful. It is worth being careful about one's child, one's daughter. George has told me one thing, to which I attach the utmost importance. He says you are of the same faith as Kate.' 'Yes. Mrs Osborne, I desire in this matter to be perfectly candid with you in all things. I was brought up in the church, and have never been a member of any other religious body. But I have not been an active or pious member. You will understand a man going about as much as I, is not so particular about keeping up observances as if he were settled down in a quiet English country town.' 'I understand. Although I have lived a very quiet life I can make allowances for young men, and so long as they do not take up some new-fangled notions, I am prepared to make allowances. Now, I think the best thing to be done is to bring Kate home. As you say you think of settling somewhere hereabout, we shall be glad to see you now and then, when it pleases you to call; but you will understand I go no further than giving you leave to call. You may renew the subject of this conversation later on, that is, if you do not in the meantime alter your mind.' 'How can I tell you how much obliged I am to you, dear Mrs Osborne!' he cried, excitedly clasping his own hands, and rising to his feet. 'You don't know what you have done for me to-day. You cannot imagine the favour you have conferred. It is above all price. I will not say more now than that, no matter how this affair may turn out, I shall never forget the confidence and kindness you have shown me, a mere stranger.' 'There is a subject, Mr Nevill, on which I am exceedingly anxious, one which has never caused me a moment's uneasiness until to-day. You may and you may not be able to serve me in it. If you are, you can serve me greatly. I am uneasy about George.' 'Uneasy about George, Mrs Osborne! In what way?' 'Never lived a better son or brother; but I am afraid he is in more danger than if he was much less good. I wish you would speak to him seriously. Try to show him the wickedness and folly and misery of unbelief. Now if, Mr Nevill, you could only do this, you would earn more of my gratitude than you could in any other way.'