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surely as they mark the march of time。 The day passed； the
evening cameand； with its coming； the prospects of the
conversion brightened in their turn。
Let Father Benwell himself relate how it happenedin an extract
from his report to Rome； written the same evening。
〃。 。 。 I had arranged with Penrose that he should call at my
lodgings； and tell me how he had prospered at the first
performance of his duties as secretary to Romayne。
〃The moment he entered the room the signs of disturbance in his
face told me that something serious had happened。 I asked
directly if there had been any disagreement between Romayne and
himself。
〃He repeated the word with every appearance of surprise。
'Disagreement？' he said。 'No words can tell how sincerely I feel
for Mr。 Romayne。 I cannot express to you； Father； how eager I am
to be of service to him！'
〃Relieved； so far； I naturally asked what had happened。 Penrose
betrayed a marked embarrassment in answering my question。
〃 'I have innocently surprised a secret；' he said； 'on which I
had no right to intrude。 All that I can honorably tell you； shall
be told。 Add one more to your many kindnessesdon't command me
to speak； when it is my duty toward a sorely…tried man to be
silent； even to you。'
〃It is needless to say that I abstained from directly answering
this strange appeal。 'Let me hear what you can tell；' I replied；
'and then we shall see。'
〃Upon this； he spoke。 I need hardly recall to your memory how
careful we were； in first planning the attempt to recover the
Vange property； to assure ourselves of the promise of success
which the peculiar character of the present owner held out to us。
In reporting what Penrose said； I communicate a discovery； which
I venture to think will be as welcome to you； as it was to me。
〃He began by reminding me of what I had myself told him in
speaking of Romayne。 'You mentioned having heard from Lord Loring
of a great sorrow or remorse from which he was suffering；'
Penrose said。 'I know what he suffers and why he suffers； and
with what noble resignation he submits to his affliction。 We were
sitting together at the table； looking over his notes and
memoranda； when he suddenly dropped the manuscript from which he
was reading to me。 A ghastly paleness overspread his face。 He
started up； and put both his hands to his ears as if he heard
something dreadful； and was trying to deafen himself to it。 I ran
to the door to call for help。 He stopped me；
he spoke in faint； gasping tones； forbidding me to call any one
in to witness what he suffered。 It was not the first time； he
said； it would soon be over。 If I had not courage to remain with
him I could go； and return when he was himself again。 I so pitied
him that I found the courage to remain。 When it was over he took
me by the hand； and thanked me。 I had stayed by him like a
friend； he said； and like a friend he would treat me。 Sooner or
later （those were his exact words） I must be taken into his
confidenceand it should be now。 He told me his melancholy
story。 I implore you； Father； don't ask me to repeat it！ Be
content if I tell you the effect of it on myself。 The one hope；
the one consolation for him； is in our holy religion。 With all my
heart I devote myself to his conversionand； in my inmost soul；
I feel the conviction that I shall succeed！'
〃To this effect； and in this tone； Penrose spoke。 I abstained
from pressing him to reveal Romayne's confession。 The confession
is of no consequence to us。 You know how the moral force of
Arthur's earnestness and enthusiasm fortifies his otherwise weak
character。 I； too； believe he will succeed。
〃To turn for a moment to another subject。 You are already
informed that there is a woman in our way。 I have my own idea of
the right method of dealing with this obstacle when it shows
itself more plainly。 For the present； I need only assure you that
neither this woman nor any woman shall succeed in her designs on
Romayne； if I can prevent it。〃
Having completed his report in these terms； Father Benwell
reverted to the consideration of his proposed inquiries into the
past history of Stella's life。
Reflection convinced him that it would be unwise to attempt； no
matter how guardedly； to obtain the necessary information from
Lord Loring or his wife。 If he assumed； at his age； to take a
strong interest in a Protestant young lady； who had notoriously
avoided him； they would certainly feel surpriseand surprise
might； in due course of development； turn to suspicion。
There was but one other person under Lord Loring's roof to whom
he could address himselfand that person was the housekeeper。 As
an old servant； possessing Lady Loring's confidence； she might
prove a source of information on the subject of Lady Loring's
fair friend； and； as a good Catholic； she would feel flattered by
the notice of the spiritual director of the household。
〃It may not be amiss；〃 thought Father Benwell； 〃if I try the
housekeeper。〃
CHAPTER VI。
THE ORDER OF THE DISHES。
WHEN Miss Notman assumed the post of housekeeper in Lady Loring's
service； she was accurately described as 〃a competent and
respectable person〃； and was praised； with perfect truth； for her
incorruptible devotion to the interests of her employers。 On its
weaker side； her character was represented by the wearing of a
youthful wig； and the erroneous conviction that she still
possessed a fine figure。 The ruling idea in her narrow little
mind was the idea of her own dignity。 Any offense offered in this
direction oppressed her memory for days together； and found its
way outward in speech to any human being whose attention she
could secure。
At five o'clock； on the day which followed his introduction to
Romayne； Father Benwell sat drinking his coffee in the
housekeeper's roomto all appearance as much at his ease as if
he had known Miss Notman from the remote days of her childhood。 A
new contribution to the housekeeper's little library of
devotional works lay on the table； and bore silent witness to the
means by which he had made those first advances which had won him
his present position。 Miss Notman's sense of dignity was doubly
flattered。 She had a priest for her guest； and a new book with
the reverend gentleman's autograph inscribed on the title…page。
〃Is your coffee to your liking； Father？〃
〃A little more sugar； if you please。〃
Miss Notman was proud of her hand； viewed as one of the
meritorious details of her figure。 She took up the sugar…tongs
with suavity and grace； she dropped the sugar into the cup with a
youthful pleasure in ministering to the minor desires of her
illustrious guest。 〃It is so good of you； Father； to honor me in
this way；〃 she saidwith the appearance of sixteen super…induced
upon the reality of sixty。
Father Benwell was an adept at moral disguises of all kinds。 On
this occasion he wore the disguise of pastoral simplicity。 〃I am
an idle old man at this hour of the afternoon；〃 he said。 〃I hope
I am not keeping you from any household duties？〃
〃I generally enjoy my duties；〃 Miss Notman answered。 〃To…day；
they have not been so agreeable as usual； it is a relief to me to
have done with them。 Even my humble position has its trials。〃
Persons acquainted with Miss Notman's character； hearing these
last words； would have at once changed the subject。 When she
spoke of 〃her humble position；〃 she invariably referred to some
offense offered to her dignity； and she was invariably ready to
state the grievance at full length。 Ignorant of this peculiarity；
Father Benwell committed a fatal error。 He inquired； with
courteous interest； what the housekeeper's 〃trials〃 might be。
〃Oh； sir； they are beneath your notice！〃 said Miss Notman
modestly。 〃At the same time； I should feel it an honor to have
the benefit of your opinionI should so like to know that you do
not altogether disapprove of my conduct； under some provocation。
You see； Father； the whole responsibility of ordering the dinners
falls on me。 And； when there is company； as there is this
evening； the responsibility is particularly trying to a timid
person like myself。〃
〃A large dinner party； Miss Notman？〃
〃Oh； dear； no！ Quite the reverse。 Onl