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troubles separated me； to my most sincere regret； from Romayne。 I
have only to add； that the foregoing narrative of personal
experience has been written with a due sense of responsibility；
and that it may be depended on throughout as an exact statement
of the truth。
JOHN PHILIP HYND；
（late Major； 110th
Regiment）。
THE STORY。
BOOK THE FIRST。
CHAPTER I。
THE CONFIDENCES。
IN an upper room of one of the palatial houses which are situated
on the north side of Hyde Park； two ladies sat at breakfast； and
gossiped over their tea。
The elder of the two was Lady Loringstill in the prime of life；
possessed of the golden hair and the clear blue eyes； the
delicately…florid complexion； and the freely developed figure；
which are among the favorite attractions popularly associated
with the beauty of Englishwomen。 Her younger companion was the
unknown lady admired by Major Hynd on the sea passage from France
to England。 With hair and eyes of the darkest brown； with a pure
pallor of complexion； only changing to a faint rose tint in
moments of agitation； with a tall graceful figure； incompletely
developed in substance and
strengthshe presented an almost complete contrast to Lady
Loring。 Two more opposite types of beauty it would have been
hardly possible to place at the same table。
The servant brought in the letters of the morning。 Lady Loring
ran through her correspondence rapidly； pushed away the letters
in a heap； and poured herself out a second cup of tea。
〃Nothing interesting this morning for me；〃 she said。 〃Any news of
your mother； Stella？〃
The young lady handed an open letter to her hostess； with a faint
smile。 〃See for yourself； Adelaide；〃 she answered； with the
tender sweetness of tone which made her voice irresistibly
charming〃and tell me if there were ever two women so utterly
unlike each other as my mother and myself。〃
Lady Loring ran through the letter； as she had run through her
own correspondence。 〃Never； dearest Stella； have I enjoyed myself
as I do in this delightful country housetwenty…seven at dinner
every day； without including the neighborsa little carpet dance
every eveningwe play billiards； and go into the smoking
roomthe hounds meet three times a weekall sorts of
celebrities among the company； famous beauties includedsuch
dresses！ such conversation！and serious duties； my dear； not
neglectedhigh church and choral service in the town on
Sundaysrecitations in the evening from Paradise Lost； by an
amateur elocutionistoh； you foolish； headstrong child！ why did
you make excuses and stay in London； when you might have
accompanied me to this earthly Paradise？are you really ill？my
love to Lady Loringand of course； if you _are_ ill； you must
have medical advicethey ask after you so kindly herethe first
dinner bell is ringing； before I have half done my letterwhat
_am_ I to wear？why is my daughter not here to advise me；〃 etc。；
etc。； etc。
〃There is time to change your mind and advise your mother；〃 Lady
Loring remarked with grave irony as she returned the letter。
〃Don't even speak of it！〃 said Stella。 〃I really know no life
that I should not prefer to the life that my mother is enjoying
at this moment。 What should I have done； Adelaide； if you had not
offered me a happy refuge in your house？ _My_ 'earthly Paradise'
is here； where I am allowed to dream away my time over my
drawings and my books； and to resign myself to poor health and
low spirits； without being dragged into society； and （worse
still） threatened with that 'medical advice' in which； when she
isn't threatened with it herself； my poor dear mother believes so
implicitly。 I wish you would hire me as your 'companion；' and let
me stay here for the rest of my life。〃
Lady Loring's bright face became grave while Stella was speaking。
〃My dear；〃 she said kindly； 〃I know well how you love retirement；
and how differently you think and feel from other young women of
your age。 And I am far from forgetting what sad circumstances
have encouraged the natural bent of your disposition。 But； since
you have been staying with me this time； I see something in you
which my intimate knowledge of your character fails to explain。
We have been friends since we were together at schooland； in
those old days； we never had any secrets from each other。 You are
feeling some anxiety； or brooding over some sorrow； of which I
know nothing。 I don't ask for your confidence； I only tell you
what I have noticedand I say with all my heart； Stella； I am
sorry for you。〃
She rose； and； with intuitive delicacy； changed the subject。 〃I
am going out earlier than usual this morning；〃 she resumed。 〃Is
there anything I can do for you？〃 She laid her hand tenderly on
Stella's shoulder； waiting for the reply。 Stella lifted the hand
and kissed it with passionate fondness。
〃Don't think me ungrateful；〃 she said； 〃I am only ashamed。〃 Her
head sank on her bosom； she burst into tears。
Lady Loring waited by her in silence。 She well knew the girl's
self…contained nature； always shrinking； except in moments of
violent emotion； from the outward betrayal of its trials and its
sufferings to others。 The true depth of feeling which is marked
by this inbred modesty is most frequently found in men。 The few
women who possess it are without the communicative consolations
of the feminine heart。 They are the noblest…and but too often
the unhappiest of their sex。
〃Will you wait a little before you go out？〃 Stella asked softly。
Lady Loring returned to the chair that she had lefthesitated
for a momentand then drew it nearer to Stella。 〃Shall I sit by
you？〃 she said。
〃Close by me。 You spoke of our school days just now Adelaide。
There was some difference between us。 Of all the girls I was the
youngestand you were the eldest； or nearly the eldest； I
think？〃
〃Quite the eldest； my dear。 There is a difference of ten years
between us。 But why do you go back to that？〃
〃It's only a recollection。 My father was alive then。 I was at
first home…sick and frightened in the strange place； among the
big girls。 You used to let me hide my face on your shoulder； and
tell me stories。 May I hide in the old way and tell _my_ story？〃
She was now the calmest of the two。 The elder woman turned a
little pale； and looked down in silent anxiety at the darkly
beautiful head that rested on her shoulder。
〃After such an experience as mine has been；〃 said Stella； 〃would
you think it possible that I could ever again feel my heart
troubled by a manand that man a stranger？〃
〃My dear！ I think it quite possible。 You are only now in your
twenty…third year。 You were innocent of all blame at that
wretched by…gone time which you ought never to speak of again。
Love and be happy； Stellaif you can only find the man who is
worthy of you。 But you frighten me when you speak of a stranger。
Where did you meet with him？〃
〃On our way back from Paris。〃
〃Traveling in the same carriage with you？〃
〃Noit was in crossing the Channel。 There were few travelers in
the steamboat； or I might never have noticed him。〃
〃Did he speak to you？〃
〃I don't think he even looked at me。〃
〃That doesn't say much for his taste； Stella。〃
〃You don't understand。 I mean； I have not explained myself
properly。 He was leaning on the arm of a friend； weak and worn
and wasted； as I supposed； by some long and dreadful illness。
There was an angelic sweetness in his facesuch patience！ such
resignation！ For heaven's sake keep my secret。 One hears of men
falling in love with women at first sight。 But a woman who looks
at a man； and feelsoh； it's shameful！ I could hardly take my
eyes off him。 If he had looked at me in return； I don't know what
I should have doneI burn when I think of it。 He was absorbed in
his suffering and his sorrow。 My last look at his beautiful face
was on the pier； before they took me away。 The perfect image of
him has been in my heart ever since。 In my dreams I see him as
plainly as I see you now。 Don't despise me； Adelaide！〃
〃My dear； you interest me indescribably。 Do you suppose h