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isn't the other evil； I suppose？〃
〃Most assuredly not。〃
〃Then what is it？〃
Romayne answered； almost passionately： 〃My own weakness and
selfishness！ Faults which I must resist； or become a mean and
heartless man。 For me； the worst of the two evils is there。 I
respect and admire Miss EyrecourtI believe her to be a woman in
a thousanddon't ask me to see her again！ Where is Penrose？ Let
us talk of something else。〃
Whether this wild way of speaking offended Lord Loring； or only
discouraged him； I cannot say。 I heard him take his leave in
these words： 〃You have disappointed me； Romayne。 We will talk of
something else the next time we meet。〃 The study door was opened
and closed。 Romayne was left by himself。
Solitude was apparently not to his taste just then。 I heard him
call to Penrose。 I heard Penrose ask： 〃Do you want me？〃
Romayne answered： 〃God knows I want a friendand I have no
friend near me but you！ Major Hynd is away； and Lord Loring is
offended with me。〃
Penrose asked why。
Romayne； thereupon； entered on the necessary explanation。 As a
priest writing to priests； I pass over details utterly
uninteresting to us。 The substance of what he said amounted to
this： Miss Eyrecourt had produced an impression on him which was
new to him in his experience of women。 If he saw more of her； it
might endI ask your pardon for repeating the ridiculous
expressionin his 〃falling in love with her。〃 In this condition
of mind or body； whichever it may be； he would probably be
incapable of the self…control which he had hitherto practiced。 If
she consented to devote her life to him； he might accept the
cruel sacrifice。 Rather than do this； he would keep away from
her； for her dear sakeno matter what he might suffer； or whom
he might offend。
Imagine any human being； out of a lunatic asylum； talking in this
way。 Shall I own to you； my reverend colleague； how this curious
self…exposure struck me？ As I listened to Romayne； I felt
grateful to the famous Council which definitely forbade the
priests of the Catholic Church to marry。 _We_ might otherwise
have been morally enervated by the weakness which degrades
Romayneand priests might have become instruments in the hands
of women。
But you will be anxious to hear what Penrose did under the
circumstances。 For the moment； I can tell you this； he startled
me。
Instead of seizing the opportunity； and directing Romayne's mind
to the consolations of religion； Penrose actually encouraged him
to reconsider his decision。 All the weakness of my poor little
Arthur's character showed itself in his next words。
He said to Romayne： 〃It may be wrong in me to speak to you as
freely as I wish to speak。 But you have so generously admitted me
to your confidenceyou have been so considerate and so kind
toward methat I feel an interest in your happiness； which
perhaps makes me over bold。 Are you very sure that some such
entire change in your life as your marriage might not end in
delivering you from your burden？ If such a thing could be； is it
wrong to suppose that your wife's good influence over you might
be the means of making your marriage a happy one？ I must not
presume to offer an opinion on such a subject。 It is only my
gratitude； my true attachment to you that ventures to put the
question。 Are you conscious of having given this matterso
serious a matter for yousufficient thought？〃
Make your mind easy； reverend sir！ Romayne's answer set
everything right。
He said： 〃I have thought of it till I could think no longer。 I
still believe that sweet woman might control the torment of the
voice。 But could she deliver me from the remorse perpetually
gnawing at my heart？ I feel as murderers feel。 In taking another
man's lifea man who had not even injured me！I have committed
the one unatonable and unpardonable sin。 Can any human creature's
influence make me forget that？ No more of itno more。 Come！ Let
us take refuge in our books。〃
Those words touched Penrose in the right place。 Now； as I
understand his scruples； he felt that he might honorably speak
out。 His zeal more than balanced his weakness； as you will
presently see。
He was loud； he was positive； when I heard him next。 〃No！〃 he
burst out； 〃your refuge is not in books； and not in the barren
religious forms which call themselves Protestant。 Dear master；
the peace of mind； which you believe you have lost forever； you
will find again in the divine wisdom and compassion of the holy
Catholic Church。 There is the remedy for all that you suffer！
There is the new life that will yet make you a happy man！〃
I repeat what he said； so far； merely to satisfy you that we can
trust his enthusiasm； when it is once roused。 Nothing will
discourage； nothing will defeat him now。 He spoke with all the
eloquence of convictionusing the necessary arguments with a
force and feeling which I have rarely heard equaled。 Romayne's
silence vouched for the effect on him。 He is not the man to
listen patiently to reasoning which he thinks he can overthrow。
Having heard enough to satisfy me that Penrose had really begun
the good work； I quietly slipped out of the waiting…room and left
the hotel。
To…day being Sunday； I shall not lose a post if I keep my letter
open until to…morrow。 I have already sent a note to Penrose；
asking him to call on me at his earliest convenience。 There may
be more news for you before post time。
Monday； 10 A。M。。
There _is_ more news。 Penrose has just left me。
His first proceeding； of course； was to tell me what I had
already discovered for myself。 He is modest； as usual； about the
prospect of success which awaits him。 But he has induced Romayne
to suspend his historical studies for a few days； and to devote
his attention to the books which we are accustomed to recommend
for perusal in such cases as his。 This is un questionably a great
gain at starting。
But my news is not at an end yet。 Romayne is actually playing our
gamehe has resolved definitely to withdraw himself from the
influence of Miss Eyrecourt！ In another hour he and Penrose will
have left London。 Their destination is kept a profound secret。
All letters addressed to Romayne are to be sent to his bankers。
The motive for this sudden resolution is directly traceable to
Lady Loring。
Her ladyship called at the hotel yesterday evening； and had a
private interview with