Part 85 (1/2)

”I can't help it: now you are out, it is rather insipid. There, you see I can pay compliments as well as you.”

Then she made a graceful inclination and moved away.

Compton felt his heart ache at parting. He took a thought and ran quickly to a certain part of the field.

Ruperta and her attendant walked very slowly homeward.

Compton caught them just at their own gate. ”Cousin!” said he, imploringly, and held her out a nosegay of cowslips only.

At that the memories rushed back on her, and the girl seemed literally to melt. She gave him one look full of womanly sensibility and winning tenderness, and said, softly, ”Thank you, cousin.”

Compton went away on wings: the ice was broken.

But the next time he met her it had frozen again apparently: to be sure she was alone; and young ladies will be bolder when they have another person of their own s.e.x with them.

Mr. Angelo called on Sir Charles Ba.s.sett to complain of a serious grievance.

Mr. Angelo had become zealous and eloquent, but what are eloquence and zeal against s.e.x? A handsome woman had preached for ten minutes upon a little mound outside the village, and had announced she should say a few parting words next Sunday evening at six o'clock.

Mr. Angelo complained of this to Lady Ba.s.sett.

Lady Ba.s.sett referred him to Sir Charles.

Mr. Angelo asked that magistrate to enforce the law against conventicles.

Sir Charles said he thought the Act did not apply.

”Well, but,” said Angelo, ”it is on your ground she is going to preach.”

”I am the proprietor, but the tenant is the owner in law. He could warn _me_ off his ground. I have no power.”

”I fear you have no inclination,” said Angelo, nettled.

”Not much, to tell the truth,” replied Sir Charles coolly. ”Does it matter so very much _who_ sows the good seed, or whether it is flung abroad from a pulpit or a gra.s.sy knoll?”

”That is begging the question, Sir Charles. Why a.s.sume that it is good seed? it is more likely to be tares than wheat in this case.”

”And is not that begging the question? Well, I will make it my business to know: and if she preaches sedition, or heresy, or bad morals, I will strain my power a little to silence her. More than that I really cannot promise you. The day is gone by for intolerance.”

”Intolerance is a bad thing; but the absence of all conviction is worse, and that is what we are coming to.”

”Not quite that: but the nation has tasted liberty; and now every man a.s.sumes to do what is right in his own eyes.”

”That mean's what is wrong in his neighbor's.”

Sir Charles thought this neat, and laughed good-humoredly: he asked the rector to dine on Sunday at half-past seven. ”I shall know more about it by that time,” said he.

They dined early on Sunday, at Highmore, and Ruperta took her maid for a walk in the afternoon, and came back in time to hear the female preacher.

Half the village was there already, and presently the preacher walked to her station.