按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Romayne took his leave rather hurriedly。 He seemed to be out of
spirits and eager to get away。 Lord Loring accompanied his guest
to the door。 〃You look sad and careworn；〃 he said。 〃Do you regret
having left your books to pass an evening with us？〃
Romayne looked up absently； and answered； 〃I don't know yet。〃
Returning to report this extraordinary reply to his wife and
Stella； Lord Loring found the drawing…room empty。 Eager for a
little private conversation； the two ladies had gone upstairs。
〃Well？〃 said Lady Loring； as they sat together over the fire。
〃What did he say？〃
Stella only repeated what he had said before she rose and left
him。 〃What is there in Mr。 Romayne's life；〃 she asked； 〃which
made him say that he would be selfish and cruel if he expected a
woman to marry him？ It must be something more than mere illness。
If he had committed a crime he could not have spoken more
strongly。 Do you know what it is？〃
Lady Loring looked uneasy。 〃I promised my husband to keep it a
secret from everybody；〃 she said。
〃It is nothing degrading； AdelaideI am sure of that。〃
〃And you are right； my dear。 I can understand that he has
surprised and disappointed you； but； if you knew his motives〃
she stopped and looked earnestly at Stella。 〃They say；〃 she went
on； 〃the love that lasts longest is the love of slowest growth。
This feeling of yours for Romayne is of sudden growth。 Are you
very sure that your whole heart is given to a man of whom you
know little？〃
〃I know that I love him；〃 said Stella simply。
〃Even though he doesn't seem as yet to love you？〃 Lady Loring
asked。
〃All the more _because_ he doesn't。 I should be ashamed to make
the confession to any one but you。 It is useless to say any more。
Good…night。〃
Lady Loring allowed her to get as far as the door； and then
suddenly called her back。 Stella returned unwillingly and
wearily。 〃My head aches and my heart aches；〃 she said。 〃Let me go
away to my bed。〃
〃I don't like you to go away； wronging Romayne perhaps in your
thoughts；〃 said Lady Loring。 〃And； more than that； for the sake
of your own happiness； you ought to judge for yourself if this
devoted love of yours may ever hope to win its reward。 It is
time； and more than time； that you should decide whether it is
good for you to see Romayne again。 Have you courage enough to do
that？〃
〃Yesif I am convinced that it ought to be done。〃
〃Nothing would make me so happy；〃 Lady Loring resumed； 〃as to
know that you were one day； my dear； to be his wife。 But I am not
a prudent personI can never look； as you can； to consequences。
You won't betray me； Stella？ If I am doing wrong in telling a
secret which has been trusted to me； it is my fondness for you
that misleads me。 Sit down again。 You shall know what the misery
of Romayne's life really is。〃
With those words； she told the terrible story of the duel； and of
all that had followed it。
〃It is for you to say；〃 she concluded； 〃whether Romayne is right。
Can any woman hope to release him from the torment that he
suffers； with nothing to help her but love？ Determine for
yourself。〃
Stella answered instantly。
〃I determine to be his wife！〃
With the same pure enthusiasm； Penrose had declared that he too
devoted himself to the deliverance of Romayne。 The loving woman
was not more resolved to give her whole life to him； than the
fanatical man was resolved to convert him。 On the same common
battle…ground the two were now to meet in unconscious antagonism。
Would the priest or the woman win the day？
CHAPTER IX。
THE PUBLIC AND THE PICTURES。
ON the memorable Monday ； when the picture gallery was opened to
the public for the first time； Lord Loring and Father Benwell met
in the library。
〃Judging by the number of carriages already at the door；〃 said
Father Benwell； 〃your lordship's kindness is largely appreciated
by the lovers of Art。〃
〃All the tickets were disposed of in three hours；〃 Lord Loring
answered。 〃Everybody （the librarians tell me） is eager to see the
pictures。 Have you looked in yet？〃
〃Not yet。 I thought I would get on first with my work among the
books。〃
〃I have just come from the gallery；〃 Lord Loring continued。 〃And
here I am； driven out of it again by the remarks of some of the
visitors。 You know my beautiful copies of Raphael's Cupid and
Psyche designs？ The general impression； especially among the
ladies； is that they are disgusting and indecent。 That was enough
for me。 If you happen to meet Lady Loring and Stella； kindly tell
them that I have gone to the club。〃
〃Do the ladies propose paying a visit to the gallery？〃
〃Of courseto see the people！ I have recommended them to wait
until they are ready to go out for their drive。 In their indoor
costume they might become the objects of general observation as
the ladies of the house。 I shall be anxious to hear； Father； if
you can discover the civilizing influences of Art among my guests
in the gallery。 Good…morning。〃
Father Benwell rang the bell when Lord Loring had left him。
〃Do the ladies drive out to…day at their usual hour？〃 he
inquired； when the servant appeared。 The man answered in the
affirmative。 The carriage was ordered at three o'clock。
At half…past two Father Benwell slipped quietly into the gallery。
He posted himself midway between the library door and the grand
entrance； on the watch； not for the civilizing influences of Art；
but for the appearance of Lady Loring and Stella。 He was still of
opinion that Stella's 〃frivolous〃 mother might be turned into a
source of valuable information on the subject of her daughter's
earlier life。 The first step toward attaining this object was to
discover Mrs。 Eyrecourt's present address。 Stella would certainly
know itand Father Benwell felt a just confidence in his
capacity to make the young lady serviceable； in this respect； to
the pecuniary interests of the Church。
After an interval of a quarter of an hour； Lady Loring and Stella
entered the gallery by the library door。 Father Benwell at once
advanced to pay his respects。
For some little time he discreetly refrained from making any
attempt to lead the conversation to the topic that he had in
view。 He was too well acquainted with the insatiable interest of
women in looking at other women to force himself into notice。 The
ladies made their remarks on the pretensions to beauty and to
taste in dress among the throng of visitorsand Father Benwell
waited by them； and listened with the resignation of a modest
young man。 Patience； being a virtue； is sometimes its own reward。
Two gentlemen； evidently interested in the pictures； approached
the priest。 He drew back； with his ready politeness； to let them
see the picture before which he happened to be standing。
The movement disturbed Stella。 She turned sharplynoticed one of
the gentlemen； the taller of the twobecame deadly paleand
instantly quitted the gallery。 Lady Loring； looking where Stella
had looked； frowned angrily and followed Miss Eyrecourt into the
library。 Wise Father Benwell let them go； and concentrated his
attention on the person who had been the object of this startling
recognition。
Unquestionably a gentlemanwith light hair and complexionwith
a bright benevolent face and keen intelligent blue
eyesapparently still in the prime of life。 Such was Father
Benwell's first impression of the stranger。 He had evidently seen
Miss Eyrecourt at the moment when she first noticed him； and he
too showed signs of serious agitation。 His face flushed deeply；
and his eyes expressed； not merely surprise； but distress。 He
turned to his friend。 〃This place is hot；〃 he said； 〃let us get
out of it！〃
〃My dear Winterfield！〃 the friend remonstrated； 〃we haven't seen
half the pictures yet。〃
〃Excuse me if I leave you；〃 the other replied。 〃I am used to the
free air of the country。 Let us meet again this evening。 Come and
dine with me。 The same address as usualDerwent's Hotel。〃
With those words he hurried out； making his way； without
ceremony； through the crowd in the picture gallery。
Father Benwell returned to the library。 It wa