"No, no, we must go up to the front like well-mannered folk. Come, don't be so obstinate, Arundel." Whether Melville would have succeeded in his attempts to draw his friend towards the entrance-porch, which stood in the centre of a long line of windows of the lower story of this side of the Palace, I do not know, had not a clerical figure in knee-breeches and shovel hat, been seen advancing over the emerald turf, and approaching the two young men. [Illustration: Gateway of the Bishop's Palace, Wells.] Melville began to show signs of nervousness, and the grand air which he maintained to his inferiors gave place to a rather servile and cringing manner, as he carefully removed his high narrow hat from his curled head and, bowing low, said: "My lord, my friend Mr. Arundel is anxious to pay his respects to you." The bishop looked with keen grey eyes at Melville, and said stiffly: "Mr. Falconer's son, I think?" "Yes, my lord; your lordship's humble servant," again bowing till the tails of his short-waisted coat stood up like those of a robin-redbreast. "Arundel, Arundel," the bishop repeated; "Arundel: the name is familiar to me." "My mother, my lord, had the honour of your lordship's acquaintance some years ago. She was Annabella Thorndeane." The bishop's somewhat stiff manner changed at once. He extended his hand, and said: "To have known your mother is to bear her always in affectionate remembrance. Where is she living?" "Since my father's death, my lord, my mother has had no settled home. She has lived within reach of me, first at Winchester, and then at Oxford. Now she will settle where I do." "And what profession are you taking, may I inquire?" "The law I believe; things are not yet decided, my lord; but there is some notion of a partnership in Bristol, when I have passed the needful examinations." "Well, well, we must have lawyers, and can no more do without them than doctors, eh?" All this time Melville had fidgeted, and felt annoyed at the bishop's coldness to him. "I am alone just now in the Palace; health, or rather the search for health, has taken the ladies to the east coast, a very distant spot--Cromer in Norfolk. But bracing was recommended, and our Western sea cannot come under that head. But will you walk round; I shall be pleased to show you over the grounds, and the gallery, where the portraits of my predecessors hang. One has the mark of a bullet in his cheek, caught in the battle of Sedgemoor. All our surroundings speak of warlike times, and there are moments now when I feel as if I would gladly pull up my drawbridge and have done with the world without. There is strife in the streets, and storms even in our little tea-cup, I can assure you." The bishop now led the way round to the gardens at which Arundel had looked with longing eyes through the ruins. Suddenly the bishop turned sharply on Melville, looking him down from head to foot with anything but an approving glance.