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〃Quite right； keeps us all up to the mark；〃 was Mr。 Arlington's
opinion （this was on Saturday）。 Just what was wanted。 Not perhaps
for a permanency； and； of course； there were drawbacks。 The
strenuous lifeseeing to it that everybody else leads the strenuous
life； it does not go with unmixed amiability。 Particularly in the
beginning。 New…born zeal： must expect it to outrun discretion。
Does not do to discourage it。 Modifications to be suggested later。
Taken all round； Mr。 Arlington's view was that the thing must be
regarded almost as the answer to a prayer。 Mr。 Arlington's eyes on
their way to higher levels； appear to have been arrested by the
church clock。 It decided Mr。 Arlington to resume his homeward way
without further loss of time。 At the bend of the lane the
Professor； looking back； observed that Mr。 Arlington had broken into
a trot。
This seems to have been the end of the Professor； regarded as a sane
and intelligent member of modern society。 He had not been sure at
the time； but it was now revealed to him that when he had urged
Malvina to test her strength； so to express it； on the unfortunate
Mrs。 Arlington； it was with the conviction that the result would
restore him to his mental equilibrium。 That Malvina with a wave of
her wandor whatever the hocus…pocus may have beenwould be able
to transform the hitherto incorrigibly indolent and easy…going Mrs。
Arlington into a sort of feminine Lloyd George； had not really
entered into his calculations。
Forgetting his lunch； he must have wandered aimlessly about； not
returning home until late in the afternoon。 During dinner he
appears to have been rather restless and nervous〃jumpy；〃 according
to the evidence of the little serving maid。 Once he sprang out of
his chair as if shot when the little serving maid accidentally let
fall a table…spoon； and twice he upset the salt。 It was at mealtime
that； as a rule； the Professor found his attitude towards Malvina
most sceptical。 A fairy who could put away quite a respectable cut
from the joint； followed by two helpings of pie； does take a bit of
believing in。 To…night the Professor found no difficulty。 The
White Ladies had never been averse to accepting mortal hospitality。
There must always have been a certain adaptability。 Malvina； since
that fateful night of her banishment； had； one supposes； passed
through varied experiences。 For present purposes she had assumed
the form of a jeune fille of the twentieth century （anno Domini）。
An appreciation of Mrs。 Muldoon's excellent cooking； together with a
glass of light sound claret； would naturally go with it。
One takes it that he could not for a moment get Mrs。 Arlington out
of his mind。 More than once； stealing a covert glance across the
table； it seemed to him that Malvina was regarding him with a
mocking smile。 Some impish spirit it must have been that had
prompted him。 For thousands of years Malvina had ledat all events
so far as was knowna reformed and blameless existence； had subdued
and put behind her that fatal passion of hers for change： in other
people。 What madness to have revived it！ And no Queen Harbundia
handy now to keep her in check。 The Professor had a distinct
sensation； while peeling a pear； that he was being turned into a
guinea…piga curious feeling of shrinking about the legs。 So vivid
was the impression； that involuntarily the Professor jumped off his
chair and ran to look at himself in the mirror over the sideboard。
He was not fully relieved even then。 It may have been the mirror。
It was very old； one of those things with little gilt balls all
round it； and it looked to the Professor as if his nose was growing
straight out of his face。 Malvina； trusting he had not been taken
suddenly ill； asked if there was anything she could do for him。 He
seems to have earnestly begged her not to think of it。
The Professor had taught Malvina cribbage； and usually of an evening
they played a hand or two。 But to…night the Professor was not in
the mood； and Malvina had contented herself with a book。 She was
particularly fond of the old chroniclers。 The Professor had an
entire shelf of them； many in the original French。 Making believe
to be reading himself； he heard Malvina break into a cheerful laugh；
and went and looked over her shoulder。 She was reading the history
of her own encounter with the proprietor of tin mines； an elderly
gentleman disliking late hours； whom she had turned into a
nightingale。 It occurred to the Professor that prior to the
Arlington case the recalling of this incident would have brought to
her shame and remorse。 Now she seemed to think it funny。
〃A silly trick；〃 commented the Professor。 He spoke quite heatedly。
〃No one has any right to go about changing people。 Muddling up
things they don't understand。 No right whatever。〃
Malvina looked up。 She gave a little sigh。
〃Not for one's own pleasure or revenge；〃 she made answer。 Her tone
was filled with meekness。 It had a touch of self…reproach。 〃That
is very wrong； of course。 But changing them for their own goodat
least； not changing； improving。〃
〃Little hypocrite！〃 muttered the Professor to himself。 〃She's got
back a taste for her old tricks； and Lord knows now where she'll
stop。〃
The Professor spent the rest of the evening among his indexes in
search of the latest information regarding Queen Harbundia。
Meanwhile the Arlington affair had got about the village。 The twins
in all probability had been unable to keep their secret。 Jane； the
dismissed； had looked in to give Mrs。 Muldoon her version of
Thursday night's scene in the Arlington kitchen； and Mrs。 Muldoon；
with a sense of things impending； may unconsciously have dropped
hints。
The Marigolds met the Arlingtons on Sunday； after morning service；
and heard all about it。 That is to say； they met Mr。 Arlington and
the other children； Mrs。 Arlington； with the two elder girls； having
already attended early communion at seven。 Mrs。 Marigold was a
pretty； fluffy； engaging little woman； ten years younger than her
husband。 She could not have been altogether a fool； or she would
not have known it。 Marigold； rising politician； ought； of course；
to have married a woman able to help him； but seems to have fallen
in love with her a few miles out of Brussels； over a convent wall。
Mr。 Arlington was not a regular church…goer； but felt on this
occasion that he owed it to his Maker。 He was still in love with
his new wife。 But not blindly。 Later on a guiding hand might be
necessary。 But first let the new seed get firmly rooted。
Marigold's engagements necessitated his returning to town on Sunday
afternoon； and Mrs。 Marigold walked part of the way with him to the
station。 On her way back across the fields she picked up the
Arlington twins。 Later； she seems to have called in at the cottage
and spoken to Mrs。 Muldoon about Jane； who； she had heard； was in
want of a place。 A little before sunset she was seen by the Doctor
climbing the path to the Warren。 Malvina that evening was missing
for dinner。 When she returned she seemed pleased with herself。
VI。 AND HOW IT WAS FINISHED TOO SOON。
S