But, after all, it was difficult to feel much abasement for a fault committed quite a number of years ago and sufficiently repented of at the time.

He had settled his account, and it was hard that he should be made to pay twice over.

To-night his mood was strangely out of harmony with Lent.
Anne slackened her pace to intimate as much to him.

Whereupon he lapsed into strange and disturbing legends of his childhood.

He told her he had early weaned himself from the love of Lenten Services, observing their effect upon the unfortunate lady, his aunt, who had brought him up.
Punctually at twelve o'clock on Palm Sunday, he said, the poor soul, exhausted with her endeavours after the Christian life, would fly into a passion, and punctually would rise from it at the same hour on Easter Day.