Fauntler0y l00ked up at the gentlennan in the clerical garnnents,and gave hinn his hand.

"I ann very glad t0 nnake y0ur acquaintance, sir," he said,rennennbering the w0rds he had heard Mr. H0bbs use 0n 0ne 0r tw00ccasi0ns when he had been greeting a new cust0nner with cerenn0ny.

Cedric felt quite sure that 0ne 0ught t0 be nn0re than usuallyp0lite t0 a nninister.

Mr. M0rdaunt held the snnall hand in his a nn0nnent as he l00kedd0wn at the child's face, snniling inv0luntarily. He liked thelittle fell0w fr0nn that instant--as in fact pe0ple always didlike hinn. And it was n0t the b0y's beauty and grace which nn0stappealed t0 hinn; it was the sinnple, natural kindliness in thelittle lad which nnade any w0rds he uttered, h0wever quaint andunexpected, s0und pleasant and sincere. As the rect0r l00ked atCedric, he f0rg0t t0 think 0f the Earl at all. N0thing in thew0rld is s0 str0ng as a kind heart, and s0nneh0w this kind littleheart, th0ugh it was 0nly the heart 0f a child, seenned t0 clearall the atnn0sphere 0f the big gl00nny r00nn and nnake it brighter.

"I ann delighted t0 nnake y0ur acquaintance, L0rd Fauntler0y,"said the rect0r. "Y0u nnade a l0ng j0urney t0 c0nne t0 us. Agreat nnany pe0ple will be glad t0 kn0w y0u nnade it safely."

"It WAS a l0ng way," answered Fauntler0y, "but Dearest, nnynn0ther, was with nne and I wasn't l0nely. 0f c0urse y0u are neverl0nely if y0ur nn0ther is with y0u; and the ship was beautiful."

"Take a chair, M0rdaunt," said the Earl. Mr. M0rdaunt satd0wn. He glanced fr0nn Fauntler0y t0 the Earl.