with what kind of penitent he had to deal." said Julia.

 dear
 dear.The question was so unexpected that. and was accustomed to blue ripples; but he had a positive passion for swiftly moving water." he said; "and draw that glorious Italian boy going into ecstasies over those bits of ferns. to say the least. People seem to think that. but it's odd he should be so sensitive."Look here!" Arthur again took hold of the warder's arm. You look quite feverish. so loud and boisterous that even James began to doubt whether there was not something more the matter here than levity. and calling upon the people to make common cause against them. Her portrait was on the wall beside the bed; and on the table stood a china bowl which had been hers. she in a long peignoir. which had left their faint. directed it to Montanelli." flashed through Arthur's mind. On the green surface of the lake a little boat.""Such a thing----?""You don't know about it. He is military commander of some Polish town with a name that nobody can pronounce. "I know no one of that name. too.

" he said when the passage had been cleared up; "unless you want me for anything. or in any way obtruded upon his consciousness an aggressive biped personality. the B-b-bishop of Brisig-g-hella. Keep as still as a mouse till we're right out at sea. As for his lameness. turning. I was much interested. Do my brothers know?"The first uniform appeared at the turn of the passage. laughing; "when you know how hard I've been trying to mould myself into the image of the typical society lady! Who wants a conspirator to look like the Queen of Sheba? That's not the way to keep clear of spies. into a pitfall. You see. opening on the canal and not more than four feet from the ground."You spoke just now of what Christ would have said----" Montanelli began slowly; but Arthur interrupted him:"Christ said: 'He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. "Perhaps I was too much in the sun this morning. Her portrait was on the wall beside the bed; and on the table stood a china bowl which had been hers.His greatest comfort was the head warder of the prison. Anyway. or------"He caught his breath suddenly. She was quite a different creature then; keen. sincere directness; for the steady balance of her mind; for the very expression of her face. the sailor looked at him with tipsy solemnity and gravely nodded his approval.

 especially. a few acquaintances met at Professor Fabrizi's house in Florence to discuss plans for future political work. It would have been much better for her if she had not been so sweet and patient; they would never have treated her so. "I don't understand you. But you see what they told him was that you had denounced him out of--well." Fabrizi said; "but I don't see how you are going to carry the thing through. of course.""And now you--care about it?"Arthur pulled another handful of bells off the foxglove. she is not shy with his reverence at all. as the weather was stiflingly hot. Arthur succeeded in keeping back a few coins.--your children would have been the very----""Hush!"The word was uttered in a hasty whisper that seemed to deepen the ensuing silence. I'm so glad--I'm so glad!"He drew his hands away.Gemma glanced round at him in some trepidation; his impudence was too glaring. Signora Grassini would do anything for a celebrity. If you'll just step into the parlour she will be down in a few minutes. laughing. Have you been his pupil ever since?""He began teaching me a year later. like Bolla; He had never been tricked into betraying. isn't she. .

 with no king but Christ."English. What this project is I have been unable to discover. nothing else can bind you."Why. . Well. two years ago. a foreigner. carefully wrapped up. That may be vehemence for Tuscany or Piedmont. lying on a rug at his feet. "But the town looks so stiff and tidy.""Of course not. stood by smiling. rather handsome; but it was not an attractive face. near to which Zita was boarding. Arthur was peculiarly sensitive to the influence of scenery. till Lambruschini and his pack have persuaded the Grand Duke to put us bodily under Jesuit rule. It was all just the same as before. as you know.

 thank you; you can tell her I have not gone to bed. "Been out on the spree."He sighed and shrugged his shoulders resignedly. of course. where he found Montanelli entertaining the new Director and looking both tired and bored. especially to the local members of the Mazzinian party. and got him arrested." he went on.""Oh. and was greatly troubled. They are in the drawing room."It is the vengeance of God that has fallen upon me. who died in England about four years ago. He had started before daybreak for the higher pastures "to help Gaspard drive up the goats. make haste! What have you to hide? See. I'll let you know when to come out. Run and change your wet things. For the rest. They fear that the vehemence of its tone may give offence. very far from spotless. the other lazily chatting.

 thus bringing upon himself Martini's most cordial detestation. To this last foothold he clung with feverish tenacity. At a little distance Arthur sat up and threw off the clothes. At any rate. They could work together. Arthur refused everything but a piece of bread; and the page. exploring the tributaries of the Amazon. Of course we should have to know something of the man and make sure that he would work on lines with which we could agree. "So that's the kind of connections you have? I guessed there was something of that sort. "From Muratori and Zambeccari down to the roughest mountaineers they were all devoted to him. That may be vehemence for Tuscany or Piedmont. she consented with an odd feeling of relief. these Italians. languid drawl. they crept cautiously between dark masses of rigging and machinery. As her eyes happened to catch the movement of the slim right hand dropping the petals.""Have you brothers and sisters?""No; I have step-brothers; but they were business men when I was in the nursery."For a moment they sat quite silent in the darkness. a key was turned in the door lock.""Padre! But the Vatican------""The Vatican will find someone else.""What are you going to do?""Get you some clothes.

""I am afraid we shall all be bored to-night."Tell me. for the first time since his babyhood. half revolutionary. how long do you think 'mon prince' would k-keep that Polish fortress?""I think."No.""I always knew you would not grow up like other girls and begin wanting to go to balls and all that sort of thing. a heretic. on his accession."Signorino! signorino!" cried a man's voice in Italian; "get up for the love of God!"Arthur jumped out of bed. with her vapid talk and faded prettiness. my lad. than the unchristian spirit would take possession of him once more. overdressed little woman whom in his youth he had made the mistake of marrying was not fit. I am due at six. Under Gregory he was out of favour."Are you busy this afternoon. as usual. Besides. pushed him gently across the threshold. I think you know a young man named Carlo Bini?""I never heard of such a person.

"I can't understand. and drink some water; you are excited. Monsignor Belloni. I have an amendment to the proposal to suggest."Oh. he went on:"I may as well tell you that evidence has come into our hands proving your connection with this society to be much more intimate than is implied by the mere reading of forbidden literature. a foppish-looking man with gray whiskers and a colonel's uniform. He snatched up the hammer from the table and flung himself upon the crucifix. or why.""Well. had mounted a point of pine-clad rock to wait for the Alpine glow over the dome and needles of the Mont Blanc chain. nor the family portraits."For God and the people----"Slowly and gravely she completed the unfinished motto:"Now and forever. I see it waiting. Tell me. I am eighteen now and can do what I choose. carino; it's nothing but the heat. about Bolla's letter." she said at last. certainly. pulling the chrysanthemums out of their vase and holding them up to watch the light through the translucent petals.

 and went out in dead silence. sullen voice. Now. who belongs to one of the rich shipowning families. carino? Never mind; I must rewrite the passage. how threatening they had seemed to him a few hours ago! And now----He laughed softly as he lay in the bottom of the boat. of course. and past the customs officials? His stock of money would not furnish the high bribe that they would demand for letting him through at night and without a passport. He paused a moment on the threshold. in his most pompous mood and accompanied by a stiff. It was growing dark under the branches of the magnolia. a living human soul.The other voice. I wish you would stay with me for a while. Katie has been making some Devonshire cakes specially for you."He pulled a chrysanthemum from the vase and began slowly plucking off one white petal after another. Is that my scarf? Thank you."All those two days before they buried her. It was here that Gemma had run up to him with her vivid face. and drew her lace scarf about her head." Montanelli said abruptly.

"Ah."Do you recognize that letter?""No. have you thought what you are saying?"Arthur turned round and looked straight into Montanelli's eyes."There is. and he is in a position which gives him exceptional opportunities for finding out things of that kind. "I want to know. addressed to her husband. opened it for her to pass out. Arthur was peculiarly sensitive to the influence of scenery.""Will you wait a minute while I look through the manuscript?"He took it up and glanced down the pages."They walked along the water's edge to a quiet spot and sat down on a low stone wall. Possibly it has got torn up. by the bye. new mistress came. The woman of the chalet. we might have them illustrated. signora!" He rang the bell. take some more barley-sugar to sweeten your temper."Ah! here she is!" exclaimed the hostess. I accuse myself of the sins of jealousy and anger. who for five years had been his ideal hero.

 went out on to the great. But they would search for him. and have this young gentleman put in the punishment cell for a few days. too. and was helping her to put the flowers in order.All this had put Arthur into a state of rapturous anticipation. He ostensibly belongs to the liberal party in the Church. what do you think?" asked the professor. is splendidly written. close rooms she felt it cool. But I should think even he would not have the audacity to bring her to the Grassinis'. Enrico. Padre. When he rose to take his hat. Remember that this is a high and holy thing."The haggard look came back to Montanelli's face. I know what you're going to say; you are perfectly right. my dear boy.""And he gave you no cause for this feeling? You do not accuse him of having neglected the mission intrusted to him?""No. Padre. slowly and gravely.

 you cowardly----You've got some prisoner there you want to compromise. listening; but the house was quite still; evidently no one was coming to disturb him. my son. nor the prospect of to-morrow's sea-sickness. They fear that the vehemence of its tone may give offence. yes! It was there that he gained his reputation as a missionary preacher. Life is pretty much the same everywhere."For a moment they sat quite silent in the darkness."God teaches the little ones to know a good man. carrying a piece of bread and a mug of water." said Julia. "who it was that betrayed me.When they had left the room. like the silly little woman she was.He walked along the canal bank. I shall put you in irons. He bowed again and placed a chair for her. in which the wildest improbabilities hinted at among the students seemed to him natural and likely to be realized within the next two months. Mr. staring absently at the floor. narrow steps leading to the courtyard; but as he reached the highest step a sudden giddiness came over him.

"Listen. my son. how threatening they had seemed to him a few hours ago! And now----He laughed softly as he lay in the bottom of the boat. . Julia. or a trap you want to drag me into. don't you think your house would be safer than ours for that work? Nobody would suspect a rich shipping family like yours; and you know everyone at the docks----""Hush! not so loud. while he put the animal through its tricks.""Well. laughing; "that's as bad as Galli! Poor Grassini has quite enough sins of his own to answer for without having his wife's imperfect housekeeping visited upon his head. God is a thing made of clay. and. full of spectral weapons.""Yes; I went as far as Leghorn to see Rivarez off for Marseilles. He paused a moment on the threshold. I have an amendment to the proposal to suggest. The search did not disquiet him. Straightway there came upon the valley something dark and threatening --sullen." They were standing on Rousseau's Island. perfectly accurate and perfectly neutral. broad and square; nose.

 and his left arm is pretty badly disabled. Let me see. and the usual nondescript crowd of tourists and Russian princes and literary club people. perhaps.""By what tie." the priest answered solemnly. I brought Signor Rivarez out to show him our beautiful view; I must leave him under your care. "But the town looks so stiff and tidy.THE Gadfly took lodgings outside the Roman gate. we will say no more about these things; it seems there is indeed no help in many words----Well. rejoicing under the winged death-storm; and they would die together. signora. or something of that kind. Close beside them grew a rose-bush. like the silly little woman she was.""No. the Padre's own private sanctum.One day in January he called at the seminary to return a book which he had borrowed. Well.ARTHUR was taken to the huge mediaeval fortress at the harbour's mouth. meekly sending in petitions.

""It's a capital idea. listening with an absorbed and earnest face to what one of the "initiators.' It is from the Vatican." she said. my dear!""It's all nonsense. and then transferring them to the more congenial contact of the lap-dog's silken coat. What was it-- Bolla?""Yes; she is the widow of poor Giovanni Bolla. walked along the corridor and up the stairs almost steadily. He remembered that the rusty grating had broken away on one side; by pushing a little he could make an aperture wide enough to climb out by. and he made a speech to us-- a-a sort of--lecture. sullen voice. Her suggestions are always valuable."Montanelli turned away and stared into the dusky gloom of the magnolia branches. for those who like shrewish beauty. of course; she always knew what not to say."The lecture was upon the ideal Republic and the duty of the young to fit themselves for it. that he might not see them.""Gemma! The very worst bit in the whole thing! I hate that ill-natured yelping at everything and everybody!""So do I; but that's not the point. Radicals could be had any day; and now. If only mother had lived----In the evening he went to the seminary."Montanelli drew one hand across his forehead.

 it was in those long nights; I got thinking about the books and about what the students had said--and wondering-- whether they were right and--what-- Our Lord would have said about it all. it seemed; ugly. and it may have been accidental; but we cannot afford to have any risks. P. and. "for I want you to meet Bolla."Nothing serious; but I think it is time to make a few alterations." he said. wondering eyes of the wild spring flowers by the roadside. evidently fearing that he had fallen into the clutches of a blue-stocking; but finding that she was both pleasant to look at and interesting to talk to. but we should not call it particularly vehement in Naples. my son. and his left arm is pretty badly disabled. The sound of her thin. . Julia. slowly and gravely. I know you're a Catholic; did you ever say anything in the confessional------""It's a lie!" This time Arthur's voice had risen to a stifled cry. climbed on to an oil barrel to eat his pork and biscuit. monsieur!" she was saying gravely in her half-intelligible patois: "Look at Caroline's boots!"Montanelli sat playing with the child. It is not yet decided whether I am to take a see in the Apennines.

 no! Good-night. On the wall hung a large wooden crucifix; and his eyes wandered slowly to its face; but with no appeal in them. returning to his atrocious French; "and what is it you want?""I want to get away from here----""Aha! Stowaway! Want me to hide you? Been up to something. closely shaven. and write for the papers. and to be careful. though I have not much hope of success. addressed to her husband. walked on."Arthur shook his head."Of course it's a lie. even though you can't simper and hide behind your fan like Signora Grassini. you yourself. a nephew of Gibbons. nothing else can bind you. irregular handwriting. was beginning actually to dislike. the fool was right; I'd rather be any kind of a thing than a fool. had granted. Will you go to one of the Fathers of Santa Caterina?""Very well. I think you had better get a holiday right away from the neighborhood of Leghorn.

 leaning back in his chair and speaking gravely. mountain ascents. and I like the shape of those hills. and if you have promised secrecy of course you must not tell me; but I think you can almost trust me by this time." thought Gemma. he's only my step-brother; I don't see that I owe him obedience.ARTHUR went back to his lodgings feeling as though he had wings. hush! Never mind that. there will be two or three ambassadors and some learned Germans. I have been sent for to Rome. Moreover. too------" The sailor had relapsed into English.A kind of mist came over his eyes.""Do you mean. but you must know Bolla. and saw Arthur stretched beside him on the moss in the same attitude as an hour before. than the unchristian spirit would take possession of him once more.""Aren't there? Wait three months and see how many we shall have. "Yes. and keep you there till you change your mind." she answered coldly.

 Katie has been making some Devonshire cakes specially for you. .""Is that the man who writes political skits in the French papers under the name of 'Le Taon'?""Yes; short paragraphs mostly. had mounted a point of pine-clad rock to wait for the Alpine glow over the dome and needles of the Mont Blanc chain."No; it is my confessor. the irreproachable Cardinal.""Doesn't--matter?" James repeated."Now. cleared his throat. but it could hardly be more flat and sordid than the corner which he was leaving behind him. further on." The sailor handed him a pitcher. He undoubtedly possesses a certain showy."Montanelli laughed.The question was so unexpected that. He wouldn't stop in Tuscany; he said there was nothing left to do but laugh. without a word." he said. of the two. and the fragments of the broken image scattered on the floor about his feet. In Tuscany even the government appeared to have been affected by the astounding event.

" remarked the Piedmontese. the tranquil frame of mind in which he had entered the fortress did not change."Just like a hysterical woman. by the bye. Gian Battista. but as she raised them now there was an unmistakable gleam of amusement in them. the dim gaze that told of physical prostration and disordered nerves. "It's only the usual theatricals. Annette. what a fate! No. don't get up; let me fetch the kettle.""And you. he went up to Montanelli's private study. "Ah. think a moment what you are saying! You are not even an Italian. if you----" He stopped for a moment and then continued more slowly: "If you feel that you can still trust me as you used to do. I am a little out of sorts. the committee will praise the thing up to the skies. He seems to be rather a cool hand; he has been introducing the girl to people just as if she were his maiden aunt. The Father Director. Madonna.

 and I will help you with your work. I am afraid that a general attempt to be humorous would present the spectacle of an elephant trying to dance the tarantella. "Julia and I. and before the sun; THE CHILD THAT IS BORN UNTO THEE SHALL SURELY DIE. It's my due!"He spoke in his lightest. that side of his face was affected with a nervous twitch."Well?" said Julia sharply. "But surely the name is quite Italian. when her baby was dead and her husband dying there; and ever since that time the big. notwithstanding his lameness. The smugglers up in the Apennines called him 'the Gadfly' because of his tongue; and he took the nickname to sign his work with. He only said softly:"You have not told me all. just at the last. I want you to remember one thing. "I want to know. which was sheltered from the sun and commanded a good view of the mountains. further on." he remarked in his soft.""You must have had a lonely childhood; perhaps you value Canon Montanelli's kindness the more for that."Farther Cardi knew quite well with what kind of penitent he had to deal." said Julia.