What beautiful flowers you have here, Mr Carbury! At any rate, we can grow flowers in Suffolk.' Mrs Yeld, the bishop's wife, was sitting next to the priest, and was in truth somewhat afraid of her neighbour.

She was, perhaps, a little stauncher than her husband in Protestantism; and though she was willing to admit that Mr Barham might not have ceased to be a gentleman when he became a Roman Catholic priest, she was not quite sure that it was expedient for her or her husband to have much to do with him.

Mr Carbury had not taken them unawares.

Notice had been given that the priest was to be there, and the bishop had declared that he would be very happy to meet the priest.

But Mrs Yeld had had her misgivings.