“Ogilvie—­Stephen Ogilvie.  My dear boy, it’s we who ought to be ashamed of ourselves for not having had the gumption to enlighten you.  How on earth were you to know without asking?  Now, look here, I must run.  I expect you’ll be wanting to get home, or I’d suggest your staying until I get back, but I must lie low after tea and think out my sermon.  Look here, come over to lunch on Saturday, haven’t you a bicycle?  You could get over from Slowbridge by one o’clock, and after lunch we’ll have a good tramp in the woods.  Splendid!”

Then chanting the Dies Irae in a cheerful tenor the Reverend Stephen Ogilvie hurried off to his Sunday School.  Mark said good-bye to Mrs. Ogilvie with an assured politeness that was typical of his new found ease; and when he started on his long walk back to Slowbridge he felt inclined to leap in the air and wake with shouts the slumberous Sabbath afternoon, proclaiming the glory of life, the joy of living.

Mark had not expected his uncle to welcome his friendship with the Vicar of Meade Cantorum; but he had supposed that after a few familiar sneers he should be allowed to go his own way with nothing worse than silent disapproval brooding over his perverse choice.  He was surprised by the vehemence of his uncle’s opposition, and it must be added that he thoroughly enjoyed it.  The experience of that Whit-sunday had been too rich not to be of enduring importance to his development in any case; but the behaviour of Uncle Henry made it more important, because all this criticism helped Mark to put his opinions into shape, consolidated the position he had taken up, sharpened his determination to advance along the path he had discovered for himself, and gave him an immediate target for arrows that might otherwise have been shot into the air until his quiver was empty.

“Mr. Ogilvie knew my father.”

“That has nothing to do with the case,” said Uncle Henry.

“I think it has.”

“Do not be insolent, Mark.  I’ve noticed lately a most unpleasant note in your voice, an objectionably defiant note which I simply will not tolerate.”

“But do you really mean that I’m not to go and see Mr. Ogilvie?”

“It would have been more courteous if Mr. Ogilvie had given himself the trouble of writing to me, your guardian, before inviting you out to lunch and I don’t know what not besides.”

“He said he would write to you.”

“I don’t want to embark on a correspondence with him,” Uncle Henry exclaimed petulantly.  “I know the man by reputation.  A bigoted Ritualist.  A Romanizer of the worst type.  He’ll only fill your head with a lot of effeminate nonsense, and that at a time when it’s particularly necessary for you to concentrate upon your work.  Don’t forget that this is your last year of school.  I advise you to make the most of it.”

“I’ve asked Mr. Ogilvie to prepare me for confirmation,” said Mark, who was determined to goad his uncle into losing his temper.