The rector of St Blank's Church dined at the Cheney table or drove in
the Cheney establishment every week, beside which there were always
one or two confidential chats with the feminine Cheneys in the
parsonage on matters pertaining to the welfare of the church, and
occasionally to the welfare of humanity.

That Alice Cheney had conceived a sudden and consuming passion for
the handsome and brilliant rector of St Blank's, both her mother and
the Baroness knew, and both were doing all in their power to further
the girl's hopes.

While Alice resembled her mother in appearance and disposition,
propensities and impulses occasionally exhibited themselves which
spoke of paternal inheritance. She had her father's strongly
emotional nature, with her mother's stubbornness; and Preston
Cheney's romantic tendencies were repeated in his daughter, without
his reasoning powers. Added to her father's lack of self-control in
any strife with his passions, Alice possessed her mother's hysterical
nerves. In fact, the unfortunate child inherited the weaknesses and
faults of both parents, without any of their redeeming virtues.

The passion which had sprung to life in her breast for the young
rector, was as strong and unreasoning as the infatuation which her
father had once experienced for Berene Dumont; but instead of
struggling against the feeling as her father had at least attempted
to do, she dwelt upon it with all the mulish persistency which her
mother exhibited in small matters, and luxuriated in romantic dreams
of the future.