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172 people are saying. She told me so yesterday. They say that Miss Tracy must be hypnotized, the way she's sacrificing herself in your interest."

He became a little impatient at that.

"I wish you wouldn't take so seriously what Miss Chichester says. She's hardly to be depended upon where gossip is concerned."

"But you haven't, have you, Robert? You haven't cast any spell over her?"

She was entirely serious. So serious that he was moved to mirth.

"No," he replied, after a moment. "I do not possess hypnotic powers. Whatever Miss Tracy is doing, she is doing entirely of her own free will."

"She has been a very great help to you, hasn't she?"

"She has been my strongest champion and ablest worker."

"If she could only have been your wife!"

Many times that day and in the days that followed, his wife's wish concerning Ruth Tracy crossed the rector's mind. He did not dwell so much on the spirit of self-abnegation which the wish displayed as he did upon the contemplation of a woman like Ruth Tracy, with her steady helpfulness, her unfailing courage, her splendid optimism, being a part of his daily life. It was a gracious vision, indeed; warp and woof of idealism, with no thread of selfishness running through it, nor of disloyalty to the woman whom he had really married, and with whom he was still genuinely in love.

Westgate went back to the gentlemen of the vestry and reported the result of his errand. They had the pleasure of saying, "I told you so," and set about at once to consider ways and means of ridding the pulpit of Christ Church, in the speediest and most effective manner, of its ungracious and unworthy incumbent.

"I am with you, gentlemen," said Westgate, "in any action you may see fit to take, however drastic.