"But if you think so,--" he shrugged his shoulders, beginning already to turn the pages of his masterpiece--"my forgiveness is yours.

I wonder if you would care to divert your thoughts from what I am sure you will admit to be a purely selfish channel by listening to a portion of this Advent sermon." "What is it about ?" asked Mrs.Lorimer, hesitating.
"My theme," said the Reverend Stephen, "is the awful doom that awaits the unrepentant sinner." There was a moment's silence, and then Mrs.Lorimer did an extraordinary thing.

She turned from him and walked to the door.
"Thank you very much, Stephen," she said, and she spoke with decision albeit her voice was not wholly steady.

"But I don't feel that that kind of diversion would do me much good.

I think I shall run up to the nursery and see Baby Phil have his bath." She was gone; but so noiselessly that Mr.Lorimer, turning in his chair to rebuke her frivolity, found himself addressing the closed door.
He turned back again with a heavy sigh.