corrected the common errors of quantity:  ‘minnus the spiritual fervour’, ’acting as his loccum tennens’.  When he referred to Christian teachers with whom he was acquainted, they were seldom or never members of the Church of England.  Methodists, Romanists, Presbyterians appeared to stand high in his favour, and Peak readily discerned that this was a way ofdisplaying ‘large-souled tolerance’.  It was his foible to quote foreign languages, especially passages which came from heretical authors.  Thus, he began to talk of Feuerbach for the sole purpose of delivering a German sentence.

’He has been of infinite value to me—­quite infinite value.  You remember his definition of God?  It is constantly in my mind. “Gott ist eine Trane der Liebe, in tiefster Verborgenheit vergossen uber das menschliche EIend.”  Profoundly touching!  I know nothing to approach it.’

Suddenly he inquired: 

‘Do you see much of the Exeter clergy?’

‘I know only the Vicar of St. Ethelreda’s, Mr. Lilywhite.’

’Ha!  Admirable fellow!  Large-minded, broad of sympathies.  Has distinctly the scientific turn of thought.’

Peak smiled, knowing the truth.  But he had hit upon a way of meeting the Rev. Bruno which promised greatly to diminish the suffering inherent in the situation.  He would use the large-souled man deliberately for his mirth.  Chilvers’s self-absorption lent itself to persiflage, and by indulging in that mood Godwin tasted some compensation for the part he had to play.

‘And I believe you know the Warricombes very well?’ pursued Chilvers.

‘Yes.’

’Ha!  I hope to see much of them.  They are people after my own heart.  Long ago I had a slight acquaintance with them.  I hear we shan’t see them till the summer.’

‘I believe not.’

’Mr. Warricombe is a great geologist, I think?—­Probably he frequents public worship as a mere tribute to social opinion?’

He asked the question in the airiest possible way, as if it mattered nothing to him what the reply might be.

‘Mr. Warricombe is a man of sincere piety,’ Godwin answered, with grave countenance.

‘That by no means necessitates church-going, my dear Peak,’ rejoined the other, waving his hand.

’You think not?  I am still only a student, you must remember.  My mind is in suspense on not a few points.’

’Of course!  Of course!  Pray let me give you the results of my own thought on this subject.’

He proceeded to do so, at some length.  When he had rounded his last period, he unexpectedly started up, swung on his toes, spread his chest, drew a deep breath, and with the sweetest of smiles announced that he must postpone the delight of further conversation.

’You must come and dine with me as soon as my house is in reasonable order.  As yet, everything is sens dessus-dessous.  Delightful old city, Exeter!  Charming!  Charming!’