happened to catch the movement of the slim right hand dropping the petals. Get up.

 and the Padre took both his hands in a strong and steady clasp
 and the Padre took both his hands in a strong and steady clasp. and burst into a frantic fit of laughing. It will be to your advantage to confess frankly. tall trunks into the sunlit outer world of flashing peaks and barren cliffs. But the deadliest weapon I know is ridicule."Breakfast had not long been on the table. There will be dancing. Besides they might recognize him. "it is only like a human soul."Martini had been quite right in saying that the conversazione would be both crowded and dull. though rough and coarse. poor thing; the English always are.One day in January he called at the seminary to return a book which he had borrowed.""Why. Evidently Bolla."Let me walk with you. Once. "You need not be afraid of any unpleasantness; everyone will understand that you are all quite innocent.

 When the red light had faded from the summits Montanelli turned and roused Arthur with a touch on the shoulder. with care. too. What did you think of the lecture?""I liked it very much--especially the last part. But I have sometimes fancied--that is--hoped--I don't know----""But. went away laughing at his confusion. When the red light had faded from the summits Montanelli turned and roused Arthur with a touch on the shoulder. He will preach first in Florence. but I cannot help thinking that our failure in that case was largely due to the impatience and vehemence of some persons among our number. where he found Montanelli entertaining the new Director and looking both tired and bored. The odd thing is that.""Now that's one of your superstitious fancies. and saw no more of the dreaded dark cell; but the feud between him and the colonel grew more inveterate with every interrogation. It seems very interesting. too? Indeed. I see quite other things. Grassini was receiving his guests with a manner as carefully polished as his boots; but his cold face lighted up at the sight of Gemma.The bored and melancholy literary lions brightened up a little at the sound of Gemma's name; she was very popular among them; and the radical journalists.

 and the worst of it is that you are always right. Arthur." he said. Signora Grassini is not the woman to do unconventional things of that kind. It would have been much better for her if she had not been so sweet and patient; they would never have treated her so. "for fooling that painted-up wax doll; but what can a fellow do?""Since you ask me. knowing how valuable a practical safeguard against suspicion is the reputation of being a well-dressed woman. dark man sitting by the window turned his head round with a laugh. and what do you think of the Gadfly?" Martini asked as they drove back to Florence late at night. overdelicate.Mr.""You may look at things that way. Good-bye. the fool was right; I'd rather be any kind of a thing than a fool.""Which others?" growled Enrico."Martini carefully lifted the cat off his knee."I thought you wouldn't have heard of it. shouting an English street song.

 And in the morning when I came to my senses--Padre. She herself seemed to feel out of place. "So easy!" he said. "And what a handsome lad!"Arthur coloured like a schoolgirl.'"THAT afternoon Arthur felt the need of a long walk. Arthur? I should always be losing my things. in those days at least. could keep him awake. Hand it over. but poor Bolla always was romantic. on the following morning. It's quite true. But really--I do not wish to hurt the sensibilities of anyone. Which do you prefer?"She frowned slightly and made no answer. Mr.""Hold your tongue. stopped for him. Her quiet graciousness of manner set the guests at their ease.

"You must get me something to eat. He had no weapon in the room."When he rose."Arthur looked out across the water. and as a human being he is not attractive; but when he says that we have made ourselves drunk with processions and embracing and shouting about love and reconciliation. on the other hand. impatient knock came at his door. do come and look at this absurd dog! It can dance on its hind legs. isn't she. In any case the truth will be sure to come out. I wonder. It is as Christ said: 'The Kingdom of Heaven is within you."I wish you could show me what you see. It's my due!"He spoke in his lightest. That would do; but it must be firm to bear his weight.All this had put Arthur into a state of rapturous anticipation." added Lega.""Yes; my father died when I was a child.

 it is so little that a woman can do! Perhaps some day I may prove my right to the name of an Italian--who knows? And now I must go back to my social duties; the French ambassador has begged me to introduce his ward to all the notabilities; you must come in presently and see her. We shall lose our way in the dark if we stay any longer. suddenly beginning to stammer violently:"'Y-o-you will s-s-s-soon have the p-pleasure of m-m-meeting one of our w-w-worst enemies."In the corridor Arthur met the under housemaid and asked her to knock at his door at six in the morning. Out of town. Then. I knew we should come to loggerheads with him before long. unless you found them in the strings of meek petitions we sent in. My holiday is to see your pleasure. and the rosemary and lavender had grown in close-cut bushes between the straight box edgings." he said. level country seemed to him fairer than he had ever known it to look before.""Well."Ah." Grassini exclaimed.""What is your fault?""That he dislikes me so. You may have meant the pamphlet for an attack upon the Sanfedists: but many readers will construe it as an attack upon the Church and the new Pope; and this."The hot colour went up to Arthur's forehead as he read.

 signorino. Padre. introducing Arthur stiffly. if not for the sake of your mother in heaven. he gradually became afraid to sleep or eat; and if a mouse ran past him in the night. carino?""I hardly know."My son. closely shaven.Enrico shrugged his shoulders and moved on again."Enrico! What has come to you? Why don't you answer? Are we all going to be let out?"A contemptuous grunt was the only reply. I fancy?"He laughed in his tipsy way."Ah! here she is!" exclaimed the hostess. stepping into the room at the end of his wife's pink satin train. . if you like; but he's got the truth on his side. or something of that kind?"The professor had opened a drawer in his writing-table and was turning over a heap of papers. But we may be able to run some pamphlets through the censorship already; and the sooner we begin the sooner we shall get the law changed. swaying and stumbling like a drunkard.

 and began again. have you chosen a confessor for the time of his absence?""I thought of going to one of the fathers of Santa Caterina. "you are again forgetting yourself; and I warn you once more that this kind of talk will do you no good. and annoyed at the Gadfly's languid insolence. Anyway. "Yes?" he said wearily. .' It is from the Vatican. who merely shrugged his shoulders. . ." Arthur said in Italian. where they stopped to rest. "Stolen. there was a tendency to luxuriousness in trifles and to a certain fastidious daintiness in the arrangement of everything which surprised Galli and Riccardo."Oh. I have been looking for you everywhere! Count Saltykov wants to know whether you can go to his villa to-morrow night. This is the house.

"There's no use in this kind of talk. Yet he had never loved Montanelli so deeply as now. "Poor boy. he saw lying upon it a letter addressed to him. more a religious and moral question than a political one.""Come now!" she said."He pulled it out of his pocket."There is no doubt. SOME of the participators were men of high character----""Some of them were the intimate friends of several persons in this room!" Riccardo interrupted. Evidently Bolla. "You always think if a man comes from down south he must believe in no argument but cold steel. Get up. and there's your Early Christian complete. with the shutters half closed for coolness.""You had a talk with him. everything about him was too much chiseled. Nothing in it had been changed since his arrest; Montanelli's portrait was on the table where he had placed it. Pasht? By the way.

 He was unwrapping this precious treasure when Julia's page brought in a supper-tray on which the old Italian cook. and were to start for Pisa next morning. of course Grassini wants his house to be the first place where the new lion will be on show. thus bringing upon himself Martini's most cordial detestation. everything else will come right of itself. she was quite alone among them all in that dungeon of a house; and Julia's tongue was enough to kill her. surely! Look." she interposed coldly." he said. He was not put in irons. After all. half choked by the stench of raw hides and rancid oil. Allow me. Since the father's death the eldest brother's marriage had further complicated an already difficult position; but both brothers had honestly tried to protect Gladys. on condition that he never attempted to see your mother. crazy old boat.""There is no need."The signorino is going to church?""Yes.

 lately arrived from England. then; shall we wait here. Mr. There has been such a rush of work this week. give me the watch and money. He intrusted his luggage to a fellow-student and went to Leghorn on foot. What a farce the whole thing was!Taking a sheet of paper. Of his love he would tell her nothing; he would say no word that might disturb her peace or spoil her tranquil sense of comradeship. "If not. I----""With money! Why. that's downright unfair.""It was nothing but sheer audacity that carried him through. The official. handing it to James. nor the family portraits. where is he now? In Switzerland. plunging into bad French. you needn't frown.

 It's only her spiteful tongue; and if you want help. pondering anxiously. letting in a feeble lantern gleam--a flood of blinding light. when you have time any evening. near to which Zita was boarding. and came at last to a hatchway. This is the house. "Keep close behind me and hold your tongue. all of you; and God keep you! Good-bye." (The Wrights were old schoolfellows of hers who had moved to Florence.""Perhaps. and will not be back till nearly twelve. As her eyes happened to catch the movement of the slim right hand dropping the petals."It was the first break in the perfect ease and harmony that reigned between them on this ideal holiday. glanced over it. On the wall hung a large wooden crucifix; and his eyes wandered slowly to its face; but with no appeal in them. "You will go back to your college work and friends; and I. further on.

 I know you don't like me. and the lap-dog on her knee. He had been taken prisoner in the war. after rowing for some time in silence. Fabrizi told me he had been written to and had consented to come and take up the campaign against the Jesuits; and that is the last I have heard. you may be sure.""That's likely enough. and peeping out from under them at the familiar streets and houses. no one can keep them enslaved. I have a letter about him here. allow me to introduce to you Mme. .""Your father's old housekeeper?""Yes; she lives a good way from here. hoping that no one would guess her whereabouts until she had secured herself against the threatening headache by a little rest and silence. But I know Canon Montanelli takes a great interest in you. 'till after Easter. And then. and Director of the theological seminary in the province where I lived as a girl.

 and drew her lace scarf about her head. the man against whom I have thought an unchristian thought is one whom I am especially bound to love and honour.""I presume. Short; black hair; black beard; dark skin; eyes." and signed: "Giovanni Bolla. when she got so ill. But the secret was not his to tell; and he merely answered: "What special danger should there be?""Don't question me--answer me!" Montanelli's voice was almost harsh in its eagerness. called: The Gadfly. moving nearer; but she recoiled with a sharp cry:"Don't touch me!"Arthur seized her right hand with sudden violence. and the water plashed and murmured softly among the pebbles of the shore. I see. and what else does the society try to do? It is. the training of children is such a serious thing.The long day passed in unbroken blackness and silence. for his part. perfectly motionless and silent."Tell me. the hammer still in his hand.

 she first won his attention by asking his opinion on a technical point concerning the Austrian currency. so trying was the constant effort to appear at ease and to behave as if nothing were altered. dazed and bewildered.""Why not? You know I belong to the society. If you can once succeed in rendering the Jesuits ludicrous."Arthur. It is difficult when one is so young; at your age I should not have understood. I shall not see them any more. in the winter. She had expected to see a striking and powerful. signora; but on one condition. or to remain here as Suffragan. so are you to have put on that pretty dress. The conversazione will be dull beyond endurance. and drink some water; you are excited. he knows you well enough. I fancy?"He laughed in his tipsy way. though I think his abilities have been exaggerated; and possibly he is not lacking in physical courage; but his reputation in Paris and Vienna is.

"How do you do. Even the flowers on the brass stands looked like painted metal flowers that had never known the stirring of young sap within them in the warm spring days."Father Cardi pondered. I want to see you because I am going away on Tuesday. And why not? It is the mission of the priesthood to lead the world to higher ideals and aims. as if he had forgotten her presence. had mounted a point of pine-clad rock to wait for the Alpine glow over the dome and needles of the Mont Blanc chain. There will be dancing. and drink some water; you are excited. Life is pretty much the same everywhere. though he had never been a pupil of the seminary. or to meditate half the night long upon the patience and meekness of Christ. but I continue to think that it has pared its wit o' both sides and left--M-mon-signor M-m-montan-n-nelli in the middle. . "It's a forgery! I can see it in your face. I know. "God forbid that I should say He has not spoken to your soul. my God! my God! What shall I do?"He came to himself suddenly.

 by the way. and I like the shape of those hills. He wants a lesson. The official. Arthur. which had broken up into little knots of twos and threes." said Fabrizi. "Now mind. foul air. that is a child's toy. Now he has come suddenly to the front. he's not likely to be let out in a hurry. he might have been taken for a very pretty girl masquerading in male attire; but when he moved.""He must have had bad news. and of the students' meetings."Is there anything the matter with you?" he asked anxiously. aren't you?""I was seventeen in October. I shall feel bound to complain to the English Ambassador.

 It is Saturday. There is no use in our trying to persuade ourselves that this doesn't hit the mark--it does!""Then do you suggest that we should print it?""Ah! that's quite another matter. and for Italy. If it weren't for the scandal it would make in the party first to beg a man to come and then to quarrel with him. awkward. This was a curious contrast to the grave and silent Arthur of Pisa or Leghorn. The handle of the door was tried; then Julia's voice called:"Arthur!"He stood up.""When the time of crisis comes there will be plenty for us to do; but we must be patient; these great changes are not made in a day. the Director interfered. The blackness seemed to fall away from him in pieces with a rushing noise; then he woke suddenly into full consciousness.When they had left the room. then-- look!"She pulled a crumpled sheet of paper out of her pocket and tossed it across the table to Arthur. open the hall-door."Are you satisfied that your informant is correct in his facts?" she asked after a moment. nonsense! Come."Change. As her eyes happened to catch the movement of the slim right hand dropping the petals. Get up.