on Mr. Farrar's removal. The man has hypnotized her. She is under a spell."
The distracted woman searched Westgate's face, trying to grasp the full meaning of his words.
"Philip!" she gasped, "you—you don't really mean"
"Oh, I don't mean that he has wilfully and maliciously placed her under his control. He is not a scoundrel. But she is, nevertheless, absolutely pliant to his will."
"And you think that, for Ruth's sake, he ought to go?"
"I say that unhesitatingly."
"Oh, dear! What shall we do?"
"You must quiet yourself, Mrs. Tracy, and await developments. As I have already told you, I doubt whether there will be any dismissal to-night. However, the final result will undoubtedly depend on the attitude assumed by the bishop. And so far as I am able to exercise any influence on his judgment, I shall exercise it in favor of the earliest possible dismissal of the rector of Christ Church."
"Philip, this is terrible!"
She would have said more, but at that moment other members of the vestry arrived, and she precipitately fled.
When the bishop of the diocese entered the library most of the vestrymen were already there. The rector, together with the two remaining members, came a few moments later. There were cordial exchanges of personal greetings, and some general conversation of a cheerful nature, for the bishop was what is called a good mixer. And this was his favorite parish. He had always enjoyed his visits and visitations here, and his friendships with the prominent men and women of Christ Church. The strained relations between many of these men and women and their rector had therefore given him deep concern. How to heal the breach was
