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The color rose slowly in the worn face of Penrose。 〃I am afraid
to understand you；〃 he said。
〃Why？〃
〃I am not sure that it is my better sense which understands。 I am
afraid； Father； it may be my vanity and presumption。〃
Father Benwell leaned back luxuriously in his chair。 〃I like that
modesty；〃 he said； with a relishing smack of his lips as if
modesty was as good as a meal to him。 〃There is power of the
right sort； Arthur； hidden under the diffidence that does you
honor。 I am more than ever satisfied that I have been right in
reporting you as worthy of this most serious trust。 I believe the
conversion of the owner of Vange Abbey isin your handsno more
than a matter of time。〃
〃May I ask what his name is？〃
〃Certainly。 His name is Lewis Romayne。〃
〃When do you introduce me to him？〃
〃Impossible to say。 I have not yet been introduced myself。〃
〃You don't know Mr。 Romayne？〃
〃I have never even seen him。〃
These discouraging replies were made with the perfect composure
of a man who saw his way clearly before him。 Sinking from one
depth of perplexity to another； Penrose ventured on putting one
last question。 〃How am I to approach Mr。 Romayne？〃 he asked。
〃I can only answer that； Arthur； by admitting you still further
into my confidence。 It is disagreeable to me；〃 said the reverend
gentleman； with the most becoming humility； 〃to speak of myself。
But it must be done。 Shall we have a little coffee to help us
through the coming extract from Father Benwell's autobiography？
Don't look so serious； my son！ When the occasion justifies it；
let us take life lightly。〃 He rang the bell and ordered the
coffee； as if he was the master of the house。 The servant treate
d him with the most scrupulous respect。 He hummed a little tune；
and talked at intervals of the weather； while they were waiting。
〃Plenty of sugar； Arthur？〃 he inquired； when the coffee was
brought in。 〃No！ Even in trifles； I should have been glad to feel
that there was perfect sympathy between us。 I like plenty of
sugar myself。〃
Having sweetened his coffee with the closest attention to the
process； he was at liberty to enlighten his young friend。 He did
it so easily and so cheerfully that a far less patient man than
Penrose would have listened to him with interest。
CHAPTER III。
THE INTRODUCTION TO ROMAYNE。
〃EXCEPTING my employment here in the library；〃 Father Benwell
began； 〃and some interesting conversation with Lord Loring； to
which I shall presently allude； I am almost as great a stranger
in this house； Arthur； as yourself。 When the object which we now
have in view was first taken seriously into consideration； I had
the honor of being personally acquainted with Lord Loring。 I was
also aware that he was an intimate and trusted friend of Romayne。
Under these circumstances； his lordship presented himself to our
point of view as a means of approaching the owner of Vange Abbey
without exciting distrust。 I was charged accordingly with the
duty of establishing myself on terms of intimacy in this house。
By way of making room for me； the spiritual director of Lord and
Lady Loring was removed to a cure of souls in Ireland。 And here I
am in his place！ By…the…way； don't treat me （when we are in the
presence of visitors） with any special marks of respect。 I am not
Provincial of our Order in Lord Loring's houseI am one of the
inferior clergy。〃
Penrose looked at him with admiration。 〃It is a great sacrifice
to make； Father； in your position and at your age。〃
〃Not at all； Arthur。 A position of authority involves certain
temptations to pride。 I feel this change as a lesson in humility
which is good for me。 For example； Lady Loring （as I can plainly
see） dislikes and distrusts me。 Then； again； a young lady has
recently arrived here on a visit。 She is a Protestant； with all
the prejudices incident to that way of thinkingavoids me so
carefully； poor soul； that I have never seen her yet。 These
rebuffs are wholesome reminders of his fallible human nature； to
a man who has occupied a place of high trust and command。
Besides； there have been obstacles in my way which have had an
excellent effect in rousing my energies。 How do you feel； Arthur；
when you encounter obstacles？〃
〃I do my best to remove them； Father。 But I am sometimes
conscious of a sense of discouragement。〃
〃Curious；〃 said Father Benwell。 〃I am only conscious； myself； of
a sense of impatience。 What right has an obstacle to get in _my_
way？that is how I look at it。 For example； the first thing I
heard； when I came here； was that Romayne had left England。 My
introduction to him was indefinitely delayed； I had to look to
Lord Loring for all the information I wanted relating to the man
and his habits。 There was another obstacle！ Not living in the
house； I was obliged to find an excuse for being constantly on
the spot； ready to take advantage of his lordship's leisure
moments for conversation。 I sat down in this room； and I said to
myself； 'Before I get up again； I mean to brush these impertinent
obstacles out of my way！' The state of the books suggested the
idea of which I was in search。 Before I left the house； I was
charged with the rearrangement of the library。 From that moment I
came and went as often as I liked。 Whenever Lord Loring was
disposed for a little talk； there I was； to lead the talk in the
right direction。 And what is the result？ On the first occasion
when Romayne presents himself I can place you in a position to
become his daily companion。 All due； Arthur； in the first
instance； to my impatience of obstacles。 Amusing； isn't it？〃
Penrose was perhaps deficient in the sense of humor。 Instead of
being amused； he appeared to be anxious for more information。
〃In what capacity am I to be Mr。 Romayne's companion？〃 he asked。
Father Benwell poured himself out another cup of coffee。
〃Suppose I tell you first；〃 he suggested； 〃how circumstances
present Romayne to us as a promising subject for conversion。 He
is young； still a single man； not compromised by any illicit
connection； romantic； sensitive； highly cultivated。 No near
relations are alive to influence him； and； to my certain
knowledge； his estate is not entailed。 He has devoted himself for
years past to books； and is collecting materials for a work of
immense research； on the Origin of Religions。 Some great sorrow
or remorseLord Loring did not mention what it washas told
seriously on his nervous system； already injured by night study。
Add to this； that he is now within our reach。 He has lately
returned to London； and is living quite alone at a private hotel。
For some reason which I am not acquainted with； he keeps away
from Vange Abbeythe very place； as I should have thought； for a
studious man。〃
Penrose began to be interested。 〃Have you been to the Abbey？〃 he
said。
〃I made a little excursion to that part of Yorkshire； Arthur； not
long since。 A very pleasant tripapart from the painful
associations connected with the ruin and profanation of a sacred
place。 There is no doubt about the revenues。 I know the value of
that productive part of the estate which stretches southward；
away from the barren region round the house。 Let us return for a
moment to Romayne； and to your position as his future companion。
He has had his books sent to him from Vange； and has persuaded
himself that continued study is the one remedy for his troubles；
whatever they may be。 At Lord Loring's suggestion； a consultation
of physicians was held on his case the other day。〃
〃Is he so ill as that？〃 Penrose exclaimed。
〃So it appears；〃 Father Benwell replied。 〃Lord Loring is
mysteriously silent about the illness。 One result of the
consultation I extracted from him； in which you are interested。
The doctors protested against his employing himself on his
proposed work。 He was too obstinate to listen to them。 There was
but one concession that they could gain from himhe consented to
spare himself； in some small degree； by employing an amanuensis。
It was left to Lord Loring to find the man。 I was consulted by
his lordship； I was even invited to undertake the duty myself。
Each one in his proper sphere； my son！ The person who converts
Romayne must be young enough and