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experiment。 No one； however； could doubt Lord Loring's admirable
devotion to his friendand with that I was fain to be content。
When Romayne returned to us； it was decided to submit his case to
a consultation of physicians at the earliest possible moment。
When Lord Loring took his departure； I accompanied him to the
door of the hotel； perceiving that he wished to say a word more
to me in private。 He had； it seemed； decided on waiting for the
result of the medical consultation before he tried the effect of
the young lady's attractions； and he wished to caution me against
speaking prematurely of visiting the picture gallery to our
friend。
Not feeling particularly interested in these details of the
worthy nobleman's little plot； I looked at his carriage； and
privately admired the two splendid horses that drew it。 The
footman opened the door for his master； and I became aware； for
the first time； that a gentleman had accompanied Lord Loring to
the hotel； and had waited for him in the carriage。 The gentleman
bent forward； and looked up from a book that he was reading。 To
my astonishment； I recognized the elderly； fat and cheerful
priest who had shown such a knowledge of localities； and such an
extraordinary interest in Vange Abbey！
It struck me as an odd coincidence that I should see the man
again in London； so soon after I had met with him in Yorkshire。
This was all I thought about it； at the time。 If I had known
then； what I know now； I might have dreamed； let us say； of
throwing that priest into the lake at Vange； and might have
reckoned the circumstance among the wisely…improved opportunities
of my life。
To return to the serious interests of the present narrative； I
may now announce that my evidence as an eye…witness of events has
come to an end。 The day after Lord Loring's visit； domestic
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