’The two faculties seem to me so different that’——­She broke off.  ‘But I mustn’t talk foolishly about such things.’

’I feel sure you have thought of them to some purpose.  I wonder whether you ever read Francis Newman’s book on The Soul?’

‘No, I never saw it.’

’Allow me to recommend it to you.  I believe you would find it deeply interesting.’

‘Does the Church approve it?’

‘The Church?’ He smiled.  ’Ah! what Church?  Churchmen there are, unfortunately, who detest the name of its author, but I hope you have never classed me among them.  The Church, rightly understood, comprehends every mind and heart that is striving upwards.  The age of intolerance will soon be as remote from us as that of persecution.  Can I be mistaken in thinking that this broader view has your sympathy, Miss Warricombe?’

‘I can’t sympathise with what I don’t understand, Mr. Chilvers.’

He looked at her with tender solicitude, bending slightly from his usual square-shouldered attitude.

’Do let me find an opportunity of talking over the whole matter with you—­by no means as an instructor.  In my view, a clergyman may seek instruction from the humblest of those who are called his flock.  The thoughtful and high-minded among them will often assist him materially in his endeavour at self-development.  To my “flock",’ he continued, playfully, ’you don’t belong; but may I not count you one of that circle of friends to whom I look for the higher kind of sympathy?’

Sidwell glanced about her in the hope that some one might be approaching.  Her two friends were at a distance, talking and laughing together.

‘You shall tell me some day,’ she replied, with more attention to courtesy, ’what the doctrines of the Broad Church really are.  But the air grows too cool to be pleasant; hadn’t we better return to the drawing-room?’

The greater part of the winter went by before she had again to submit to a tete-a-tete with the Rev. Bruno.  It was seldom that she thought of him save when compelled to do so by his exacting presence, but in the meantime he exercised no small influence on her mental life.  Insensibly she was confirmed in her alienation from all accepted forms of religious faith.  Whether she wished it or not, it was inevitable that such a process should keep her constantly in mind of Godwin Peak.  Her desire to talk with him at times became so like passion that she appeared to herself to love him more truly than ever.  Yet such a mood was always followed by doubt, and she could not say whether the reaction distressed or soothed her.  These months that had gone by brought one result, not to be disguised.  Whatever the true nature of her feeling for Godwin, the thought of marrying him was so difficult to face that it seemed to involve impossibilities.  He himself had warned her that marriage would mean severance from all her kindred.  It was practically true, and time would only increase the difficulty of such a determination.