He would not yield up his secret, and he defied the
world to drag it from him. His companion smiled upon him with the
baffling look which her husband called her Mona Lisa expression, and
then she laughed outright.
"My dear boy," she said, "you are no more a priest than I am; and you
are as transparent as a piece of crystal. Well, I am fond of you, and
I'm glad to have a hand in proving to you that you are not meant for
the priesthood before it's too late."
"But it hasn't been proved to me," he cried, not without some
sternness.
"Oh, bless you, it's in train, and that's the same thing. 'Not poppy,
nor mandragora, nor all the drowsy syrups of the east' could put you to
sleep again in the dream you had in the Clergy House. It will take you
a little longer to find yourself out, but the thing is done
nevertheless."
As she spoke, a servant came to the door to announce the carriage. Mrs.
Staggchase held out her hand.
"Good-by," she said, as Maurice rose, and came forward to take it. "I
hope that we shall see you again in a couple of days. I have still a
good deal to show you."
He had recovered his self-possession a little, and answered her with a
smile:--
"You make it so delightful for me here that I am not sure you are not
right in saying that you are my temptation.
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