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your conduct may be？〃
Stella's color rose。 〃Try to be serious； Adelaide； when you speak
to me of Romayne；〃 she answered； gravely。 〃His good opinion of me
is the breath of my life。〃
An hour later； the important letter to Romayne was written。
Stella scrupulously informed him of all that had happenedwith
two necessary omissions。 In the first place； nothing was said of
the widow's reference to her son's death； and of the effect
produced by it on his younger brother。 The boy was simply
described as being of weak intellect； and as requiring to be kept
under competent control。 In the second place； Romayne was left to
infer that ordinary motives of benevolence were the only motives；
on his part； known to Miss Eyrecourt。
The letter ended in these lines：
〃If I have taken an undue liberty in venturing； unasked； to
appear as your representative； I can only plead that I meant
well。 It seemed to me to be hard on these poor people； and not
just to you in your absence； to interpose any needless delays in
carrying out those kind intentions of yours； which had no doubt
been properly considered beforehand。 In forming your opinion of
my conduct； pray remember that I have been careful not to com
promise you in any way。 You are only known to Madame Marillac as
a compassionate person who offers to help her； and who wishes to
give that help anonymously。 If； notwithstanding this； you
disapprove of what I have done； I must not conceal that it will
grieve and humiliate meI have been so eager to be of use to
you； when others appeared to hesitate。 I must find my consolation
in remembering that I have become acquainted with one of the
sweetest and noblest of women； and that I have helped to preserve
her afflicted son from dangers in the future which I cannot
presume to estimate。 You will complete what I have only begun。 Be
forbearing and kind to me if I have innocently offended in this
matterand I shall gratefully remember the day when I took it on
myself to be Mr。 Romayne's almoner。〃
Lady Loring read these concluding sentences twice over。
〃I think the end of your letter will have its effect on him；〃 she
said。
〃If it brings me a kind letter in reply；〃 Stella answered； 〃it
will have all the effect I hope for。〃
〃If it does anything；〃 Lady Loring rejoined； 〃it will do more
than that。〃
〃What more can it do？〃
〃My dear； it can bring Romayne back to you。 〃
Those hopeful words seemed rather to startle Stella than to
encourage her。
〃Bring him back to me？〃 she repeated 〃Oh； Adelaide； I wish I
could think as you do！〃
〃Send the letter to the post；〃 said Lady Loring； 〃and we shall
see。〃
CHAPTER XIII
FATHER BENWELL'S CORRESPONDENCE。
I。
_Arthur Penrose to Father Benwell。_
REVEREND AND DEAR FATHERWhen I last had the honor of seeing
you； I received your instructions to report； by letter； the
result of my conversations on religion with Mr。 Romayne。
As events have turned out； it is needless to occupy your time by
dwelling at any length on this subject； in writing。 Mr。 Romayne
has been strongly impressed by the excellent books which I have
introduced to his notice。 He raises certain objections； which I
have done my best to meet； and he promises to consider my
arguments with his closest attention； in the time to come。 I am
happier in the hope of restoring his mental tranquillityin
other and worthier words； of effecting his conversionthan I can
tell you in any words of mine。 I respect and admire； I may almost
say I love； Mr。 Romayne。
The details which are wanting in this brief report of progress I
shall have the privilege of personally relating to you。 Mr。
Romayne no longer desires to conceal himself from his friends。 He
received a letter this morning which has changed all his plans；
and has decided him on immediately returning to London。 I am not
acquainted with the contents of the letter； or with the name of
the writer； but I am pleased； for Mr。 Romayne's sake； to see that
the reading of it has made him happy。
By to…morrow evening I hope to present my respects to you。
II。
_Mr。 Bitrake to Father Benwell。_
SIRThe inquiries which I have instituted at your request have
proved successful in one respect。
I am in a position to tell you that events in Mr。 Winterfield's
life have unquestionably connected him with the young lady named
Miss Stella Eyrecourt。
The attendant circumstances； however； are not so easy to
discover。 Judging by the careful report of the person whom I
employ； there must have been serious reasons； in this case； for
keeping facts secret and witnesses out of the way。 I mention
this； not to discourage you； but to prepare you for delays that
may occur on our way to discovery。
Be pleased to preserve your confidence in me； and to give me
timeand I answer for the result。
BOOK THE SECOND。
CHAPTER I。
THE SANDWICH DANCE。
A FINE spring； after a winter of unusual severity； promised well
for the prospects of the London season。
Among the social entertainments of the time； general curiosity
was excited； in the little sphere which absurdly describes itself
under the big name of Society； by the announcement of a party to
be given by Lady Loring； bearing the quaint title of a Sandwich
Dance。 The invitations were issued at an unusually early hour；
and it was understood that nothing so solid and so commonplace as
the customary supper was to be offered to the guests。 In a word；
Lady Loring's ball was designed as a bold protest against late
hours and heavy midnight meals。 The younger people were all in
favor of the proposed reform。 Their elders declined to give an
opinion beforehand。
In the small inner circle of Lady Loring's most intimate friends；
it was whispered that an innovation in the matter of refreshments
was contemplated； which would put the tolerant principles of the
guests to a severe test。 Miss Notman； the housekeeper； politely
threatening retirement on a small annuity； since the memorable
affair of the oyster…omelet； decided on carrying out her design
when she heard that there was to be no supper。 〃My attachment to
the family can bear a great deal；〃 she said。 〃But when Lady
Loring deliberately gives a ball； without a supper； I must hide
my head somewhereand it had better be out of the house！〃 Taking
Miss Notman as re