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hands of my progenitor； as it most assuredly did in the present instance。
Hardly had the rector announced； 〃Here beginneth the forty…fourth
verse of the sixteenth chapter of the book of the prophet Ezekiel；〃 than a
sort of relaxation took place in the mind I was attacking。 Lena Houghton's
attention could only have been given to the drearily read lesson by a very
great effort； she was a little lazy and did not make the effort； she thought
how nice it was to sit down again； and then the melancholy voice lulled
her into a vague interval of thoughtless inactivity。 I promptly seized my
opportunity； and in a moment her whole mind was full of me。 She was
an excitable； impressionable sort of girl； and when once I had obtained an
entrance into her mind I found it the easiest thing in the world to dominate
her thoughts。 Though she stood； and sat； and knelt； and curtseyed； and
articulated words； her thoughts were entirely absorbed in me。 I crowded
out the Magnificat with a picture of Zaluski and Gertrude Morley。 I led
her through more terrible future possibilities in the second lesson than
would be required for a three…volume novel。 I entirely eclipsed the
collects with reflections on unhappy marriages； took her off via Russia
and Nihilism in the State prayers； and by the time we arrived at St。
Chrysostom had become so powerful that I had worked her mind into
exactly the condition I desired。
The congregation rose。 Lena Houghton； still dominated by me； knelt
longer than the rest； but at last she got up and walked down the aisle； and I
felt a great sense of relief and satisfaction。 We were out in the open air
once more； and I had triumphed； I was quite sure that she would tell the
first person she met； for； as I have said before； she was entirely taken up
with me； and to have kept me to herself would have required far more
strength and unselfishness than she at that moment possessed。 She
walked slowly through the churchyard； feeling much pleased to see that
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SLANDER
the curate had just left the vestry door； and that in a few moments their
paths must converge。
Mr。 Blackthorne had only been ordained three or four years； and was a
little younger； and much less experienced in the ways of the world； than
Sigismund Zaluski。 He was a good well…meaning fellow； a little narrow；
a little prejudiced； a little spoiled by the devotion of the district visitors
and Sunday School teachers； but he was honest and energetic； and as a
worker among the poor few could have equalled him。 He seemed to
fancy； however； that with the poor his work ended； and he was not always
so wise as he might have been in Muddleton society。
〃Good afternoon； Miss Houghton；〃 he exclaimed。 〃Do you happen to
know if your brother is at home？ I want just to speak to him about the
choir treat。〃
〃Oh； he is sure to be in by this time；〃 said Lena。
And they walked home together。
〃I am so glad to have this chance of speaking to you；〃 she began rather
nervously。 〃I wanted particularly to ask your advice。〃
Mr。 Blackthorne； being human and young； was not unnaturally
flattered by this remark。 True； he was becoming well accustomed to this
sort of thing； since the ladies of Muddleton were far more fond of seeking
advice from the young and good…looking curate than from the elderly and
experienced rector。 They said it was because Mr。 Blackthorne was so
much more sympathetic； and understood the difficulties of the day so
much better； but I think they unconsciously deceived themselves； for the
rector was one of a thousand； and the curate； though he had in him the
makings of a fine man； was as yet altogether crude and young。
〃Was it about anything in your district？〃 he asked； devoutly hoping
that she was not going to propound some difficult question about the
origin of evil； or any other obscure subject。 For though he liked the
honour of being consulted； he did not always like the trouble it involved；
and he remembered with a shudder that Miss Houghton had once asked
him his opinion about the 'Ethical Concept of the Good。'
〃It was only that I was so troubled about something Mrs。 O'Reilly has
just told me；〃 said Lena Houghton。 〃You won't tell any one that I told
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SLANDER
you？〃
〃On no account；〃 said the curate； warmly。
〃Well； you know Mr。 Zaluski； and how the Morleys have taken him
up？〃
〃Every one has taken him up；〃 said the curate； with the least little
touch of resentment in his tone。 〃I knew that the Morleys were his
special friends； I imagine that he admires Miss Morley。〃
〃Yes； every one thinks they are either engaged or on the brink of it。
And oh； Mr。 Blackthorne； can't you or somebody put a stop to it； for it
seems such a dreadful fate for poor Gertrude？〃
The curate looked startled。
〃Why； I don't profess to like Mr。 Zaluski；〃 he said。 〃But I don't know
anything exactly against him。〃
〃But I do。 Mrs。 O'Reilly has just been telling me。〃
〃What did she tell you？〃 he asked with some curiosity。
〃Why； she has found out that he is really a Nihilistjust think of a
Nihilist going about loose like this； and playing tennis at the rectory and
all the good houses！ And not only that； but she says he is altogether a
dangerous； unprincipled man with a dreadful temper。 You can't think how
unhappy she is about poor Gertrude； and so am I； for we were at school
together and have always been friends。〃
〃I am very sorry to hear about it；〃 said Mr。 Blackthorne； 〃but I don't
see that anything can be done。 You see； one does not like to interfere in
these sort of things。 It seems officious rather； and meddlesome。〃
〃Yes； that is the worst of it；〃 she replied； with a sigh。 〃I suppose we
can do nothing。 Still； it has been a great relief just to tell you about it and
get it off my mind。 I suppose we can only hope t