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word more。
Romayne looked out； and recognized his wife。
〃Excuse me for one moment；〃 he said； 〃it is Mrs。 Romayne。〃
On that morning an improvement in the fluctuating state of Mrs。
Eyrecourt's health had given Stella another of those
opportunities of passing an hour or two with her husband； which
she so highly prized。 Romayne withdrew； to meet her at the
doortoo hurriedly to notice Winterfield standing； in the corner
to which he had retreated； like a man petrified。
Stella had got out of the carriage when her husband reached the
porch。 She ascended the few steps that led to the hall as slowly
and painfully as if she had been an infirm old woman。 The
delicately tinted color in her face had faded to an ashy white。
She had seen Winterfield at the window。
For the moment； Romayne looked at her in speechless
consternation。 He led her into the nearest room that opened out
of the hall； and took her in his arms。 〃My love； this nursing of
your mother has completely broken you down！〃 he said； with the
tenderest pity for her。 〃If you won't think of yourself； you must
think of me。 For my sake remain here； and take the rest that you
need。 I will be a tyrant； Stella； for the first time； I won't let
you go back。〃
She roused herself； and tried to smileand hid the sad result
from him in a kiss。 〃I do feel the anxiety and fatigue；〃 she
said。 〃But my mother is really improving； and； if it only
continues； the blessed sense of relief will make me strong
again。〃 She paused； and roused all her courage； in anticipation
of the next wordsso trivial and so terriblethat must； sooner
or later； be pronounced。 〃You have a visitor？〃 she said。
〃Did you see him at the window？ A really delightful manI know
you will like him。 Under any other circumstances； I should have
introduced him。 You are not well enough to see strangers today。〃
She was too determined to prevent Winterfield from ever entering
the house again to shrink from the meeting。 〃I am not so ill as
you think； Lewis；〃 she said； bravely。 〃When you go to your new
friend； I will go with you。 I am a little tiredthat's all。〃
Romayne looked at her anxiously。 〃Let me get you a glass of
wine；〃 he said。
She consentedshe really felt the need of it。 As he turned away
to ring the bell； she put the question which had been in her mind
from the moment when she had seen Winterfield。
〃How did you become acquainted with this gentleman？〃
〃Through Father Benwell。〃
She was not surprised by the answerher suspicion of the priest
had remained in her mind from the night of Lady Loring's ball。
The future of her married life depended on her capacity to check
the growing intimacy between the two men。 In that conviction she
found the courage to face Winterfield。
How should she meet him？ The impulse of the moment pointed to the
shortest way out of the dreadful position in which she was
placedit was to treat him like a stranger。 She drank her glass
of wine； and took Romayne's arm。 〃We mustn't keep your friend
waiting any longer；〃 she resumed。 〃Come！〃
As they crossed the hall； she looked suspiciously toward the
house door。 Had he taken the opportunity of leaving the villa？ At
any other time she would have remembered that the plainest laws
of good breeding compelled him to wait for Romayne's return。 His
own knowledge of the world would tell him that an act of gross
rudeness； committed by a well…bred man； would inevitably excite
suspicion of some unworthy motiveand might； perhaps； connect
that motive with her unexpected appearance at the house。 Romayne
opened the door； and they entered the room together。
〃Mr。 Winterfield； let me introduce you to Mrs。 Romayne。〃 They
bowed to each other； they spoke the conventional words proper to
the occasionbut the effort that it cost them showed itself。
Romayne perceived an unusual formality in his wife's manner； and
a strange disappearance of Winterfield's easy grace of address。
Was he one of the few men； in these days； who are shy in the
presence of women？ And was the change in Stella attributable；
perhaps； to the state of her health？ The explanation might； in
either case； be the right one。 He tried to set them at their
ease。
〃Mr。 Winterfield is so pleased with the pictures； that he means
to come and see them again；〃 he said to his wife。 〃And one of his
favorites happens to be your favorite； too。〃
She tried to look at Winterfield； but her eyes sank。 She could
turn toward him； and that was all。 〃Is it the sea…piece in the
study？〃 she said to him faintly。
〃Yes；〃 he answered； with formal politeness； 〃it seems to me to be
one of the painter's finest works。〃
Romayne looked at him in unconcealed wonder。 To what flat
commonplace Winterfield's lively enthusiasm had sunk in Stella's
presence！ She perceived that some unfavorable impression had been
produced on her husband； and interposed with a timely suggestion。
Her motive was not only to divert Romayne's attention from
Winterfield； but to give him a reason for leaving the room。
〃The little water…color drawing in my bedroom is by the same
artist；〃 she said。 〃Mr。 Winterfield might like to see it。 If you
will ring the bell； Lewis； I will send my maid for it。〃
Romayne had never allowed the servants to touch his works of art；
since the day when a zealous housemaid had tried to wash one of
his plaster casts。 He made the reply which his wife had
anticipated。
〃No！ no！〃 he said。 〃I will fetch the drawing myself。〃 He turned
gayly to Winterfield。 〃Prepare yourself for another work that you
would like to kiss。〃 He smiled； and left the room。
The instant the door was closed； Stella approached Winterfield。
Her beautiful face became distorted by a mingled expression of
rage and contempt。 She spoke to him in a fierce peremptory
whisper。
〃Have you any consideration for me left？〃 His look at her； as she
put that question； revealed the most complete contrast between
his face and hers。 Compassionate sorrow was in his eyes； tender
forbearance and respect spoke in his tones； as he answered her。
〃I have more than consideration for you； Stella〃
She angrily interrupted him。 〃How dare you call me by my
Christian name？〃
He remonstrated； with a gentleness that might have touched the
heart of any woman。 〃Do you still refuse to believe that I never
deceived you？ Has time not softened your heart to me yet？〃
She was more contemptuous toward him than ever。 〃Spare me your
protestations；〃 she said； 〃I heard enough of them two years
since。 Will you do what I ask of you？〃
〃You know that I will。〃
〃Put an end to your acquaintance with my husband。 Put an end to
it；〃 she repeated vehemently； 〃from this day； at once and
forever！ Can I trust you to do it？〃
〃Do you think I would have entered this house if I had known he
was your husband？〃 He made that reply with a sudden change in
himwith a rising color and in firm tones of indignation。 In a
moment more； his voice softened again； and his kind blue eyes
rested on her sadly and devotedly。 〃You may trust me to do more
than you ask；〃 he resumed。 〃You have made a mistake。〃
〃What mistake？〃
〃When Mr。 Romayne introduced us； you met me like a strangerand
you left me no choice but to do as you did。〃
〃I wish you to be a stranger。〃
Her sharpest replies made no change in his manner。 He spoke as
kindly and as patiently as ever。
〃You forget that you and your mother were my guests at Beaupark；
two years ago〃
Stella understood what he meantand more。 In an instant she
remembered that Father Benwell had been at Beaupark House。 Had he
heard of the visit？ She clasped her hands in speechless terror。
Winterfield gently reassured her。 〃You must not be frightened；〃
he said。 〃It is in the last degree unlikely that Mr。 Romayne will
ever find out that you were at my house。 If he doesand if you
deny itI will do for you what I would do for no other human
creature； I will deny it too。 You are safe from discovery。 Be
happyand forget me。〃
For the first time she showed signs of relentingshe turned her
head away； and sighed。 Although her mind was full of the serious
necessity of warning him against Father