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other times。 Is this another result of your influence over me？〃
He put the question with an assumed gayety。 Stella made no
effort； on her side； to answer him in the same tone。
〃I almost wish I really had some influence over you；〃 she said；
gravely and sadly。
〃Why？〃
〃I should try to induce you to shut up your books； and choose
some living companion who might restore you to your happier
self。〃
〃It is already done；〃 said Romayne； 〃I have a new companion in
Mr。 Penrose。〃
〃Penrose？〃 she repeated。 〃He is the friendis he notof the
priest here； whom they call Father Benwell？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I don't like Father Benwell。〃
〃Is that a reason for disliking Mr。 Penrose？〃
〃Yes；〃 she said； boldly； 〃because he is Father Benwell's friend。〃
〃Indeed； you are mistaken； Miss Eyrecourt。 Mr。 Penrose only
entered yesterday on his duties as my secretary； and I have
already had reason to think highly of him。 Many men； after _that_
experience of me；〃 he added； speaking more to himself than to
her； 〃might have asked me to find another secretary。〃
Stella heard those last words； and looked at him in astonishment。
〃Were you angry with Mr。 Penrose？〃 she asked innocently。 〃Is it
possible that _you_ could speak harshly to any person in your
employment？〃
Romayne smiled。 〃It was not what I said；〃 he answered。 〃I am
subject to attacksto sudden attacks of illness。 I am sorry I
alarmed Mr。 Penrose by letting him see me under those
circumstances。〃
She looked at him； hesitated； and looked away again。 〃Would you
be angry with me if I confessed something？〃 she said timidly。
〃It is impossible I can be angry with you！〃
〃Mr。 Romayne； I think I have seen what your secretary saw。 I know
how you suffer； and how patiently you bear it。〃
〃You！〃 he exclaimed。
〃I saw you with your friend； when you came on board the steamboat
at Boulogne。 Oh； no； you never noticed me！ You never knew how I
pitied you。 And afterward； when you moved away by yourself； and
stood by the place in which the engines workyou are sure you
won't think the worse of me； if I tell it？〃
〃No！ no！〃
〃Your face frightened meI can't describe itI went to your
friend and took it on myself to say that you wanted him。 It was
an impulseI meant well。〃
〃I am sure you meant well。〃 As he spoke； his face darkened a
little； betraying a momentary feeling of distrust。 Had she put
indiscreet questions to his traveling companion； and had the
Major； under the persuasive influence of her beauty； been weak
enough to answer them？ 〃Did you speak to my friend？〃 he asked。
〃Only when I told him that he had better go to you。 And I think I
said afterward I was afraid you were very ill。 We were in the
confusion of arriving at Folkestoneand； even if I had thought
it right to say more； there was no opportunity。〃
Romayne felt ashamed of the suspicion by which he had wronged
her。 〃You have a generous nature；〃 he said earnestly。 〃Among the
few people whom I know； how many would feel the interest in me
that you felt？〃
〃Don't say that； Mr。 Romayne！ You could have had no kinder friend
than the gentleman who took care of you on your journey。 Is he
with you now in London？〃
〃No。〃
〃I am sorry to hear it。 You ought to have some devoted friend
always near you。〃
She spoke very earnestly。 Romayne shrank； with a strange shyness；
from letting her see how her sympathy affected him。 He answered
lightly。 〃You go almost as far as my good friend there reading
the newspaper；〃 he said。 〃Lord Loring doesn't scruple to tell me
that I ought to marry。 I know he speaks with a sincere interest
in my welfare。 He little thinks how he distresses me。〃
〃Why should he distress you？〃
〃He reminds melive as long as I maythat I must live alone。
Can I ask a woman to share such a dreary life as mine？ It would
be selfish； it would be cruel； I should deservedly pay the
penalty of allowing my wife to sacrifice herself。 The time would
come when she would repent having married me。〃
Stella rose。 Her eyes rested on him with a look of gentle
remonstrance。 〃I think you hardly do women justice；〃 she said
softly。 〃Perhaps some day a woman may induce you to change your
opinion。〃 She crossed the room to the piano。 〃You must be tired
of playing； Adelaide；〃 she said； putting her hand caressingly on
Lady Loring's shoulder。
〃Will you sing； Stella？〃
She sighed； and turned away。 〃Not to…night；〃 she answered。
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 the