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at me with a strange kind of interestI can't describe it。 Have
you taken him into our confidence？〃
〃He is so devotedhe has such a true interest in me；〃 said
Romayne〃I really felt ashamed to treat him like a stranger。 On
our journey to London I did own that it was your charming letter
which had decided me on returning。 I did say； 'I must tell her
myself how well she has understood me； and how deeply I feel her
kindness。' Penrose took my hand； in his gentle； considerate way。
'I understand you； too；' he saidand that was all that passed
between us。〃
〃Nothing more； since that time？〃
〃Nothing。〃
〃Not a word of what we said to each other when we were alone last
week in the picture gallery？〃
〃Not a word。 I am self…tormentor enough to distrust myself； even
now。 God knows I have concealed nothing from you； and yet Am I
not selfishly thinking of my own happiness； Stella； when I ought
to be thinking only of you？ You know； my angel； with what a life
you must associate yourself if you marry me。 Are you really sure
tha t you have love enough and courage enough to be my wife？〃
She rested her head caressingly on his shoulder； and looked up at
him with her charming smile。
〃How many times must I say it；〃 she asked； 〃before you will
believe me？ Once moreI have love enough and courage enough to
be your wife； and I knew it； Lewis； the first time I saw you！
Will _that_ confession satisfy your scruples？ And will you
promise never again to doubt yourself or me？〃
Romayne promised； and sealed the promiseunresisted this
timewith a kiss。 〃When are we to be married？〃 he whispered。
She lifted her head from his shoulder with a sigh。 〃If I am to
answer you honestly；〃 she replied； 〃I must speak of my mother；
before I speak of myself。〃
Romayne submitted to the duties of his new position； as well as
he understood them。 〃Do you mean that you have told your mother
of our engagement？〃 he said。 〃In that case； is it my duty or
yoursI am very ignorant in these mattersto consult her
wishes？ My own idea is； that I ought to ask her if she approves
of me as her son…in…law； and that you might then speak to her of
the marriage。〃
Stella thought of Romayne's tastes； all in favor of modest
retirement； and of her mother's tastes； all in favor of
ostentation and display。 She frankly owned the result produced in
her own mind。 〃I am afraid to consult my mother about our
marriage； 〃 she said。
Romayne looked astonished。 〃Do you think Mrs。 Eyrecourt will
disapprove of it？〃 he asked。
Stella was equally astonished on her side。 〃Disapprove of it？〃
she repeated。 〃I know for certain that my mother will be
delighted。〃
〃Then where is the difficulty？〃
There was but one way of definitely answering that question。
Stella boldly described her mother's idea of a weddingincluding
the Archbishop； the twelve bridesmaids in green and gold； and the
hundred guests at breakfast in Lord Loring's picture gallery。
Romayne's consternation literally deprived him； for the moment；
of the power of speech。 To say that he looked at Stella； as a
prisoner in 〃the condemned cell〃 might have looked at the
sheriff； announcing the morning of his execution； would be to do
injustice to the prisoner。 He receives _his_ shock without
flinching； and； in proof of his composure； celebrates his wedding
with the gallows by a breakfast which he will not live to digest。
〃If you think as your mother does；〃 Romayne began； as soon as he
had recovered his self…possession； 〃no opinion of mine shall
stand in the way〃 He could get no further。 His vivid
imagination saw the Archbishop and the bridesmaids； heard the
hundred guests and their dreadful speeches： his voice faltered；
in spite of himself。
Stella eagerly relieved him。 〃My darling； I don't think as my
mother does；〃 she interposed； tenderly。 〃I am sorry to say we
have very few sympathies in common。 Marriages； as I think； ought
to be celebrated as privately as possiblethe near and dear
relations present； and no one else。 If there must be rejoicings
and banquets； and hundreds of invitations； let them come when the
wedded pair are at home after the honeymoon； beginning life in
earnest。 These are odd ideas for a woman to havebut they _are_
my ideas； for all that。〃
Romayne's face brightened。 〃How few women possess your fine sense
and your delicacy of feeling！〃 he exclaimed 〃Surely your mother
must give way； when she hears we are both of one mind about our
marriage。〃
Stella knew her mother too well to share the opinion thus
expressed。 Mrs。 Eyrecourt's capacity for holding to her own
little ideas； and for persisting （where her social interests were
concerned） in trying to insinuate those ideas into the minds of
other persons； was a capacity which no resistance； short of
absolute brutality； could overcome。 She was perfectly capable of
worrying Romayne （as well as her daughter） to the utmost limits
of human endurance； in the firm conviction that she was bound to
convert all heretics； of their way of thinking； to the orthodox
faith in the matter of weddings。 Putting this view of the case
with all possible delicacy； in speaking of her mother； Stella
expressed herself plainly enough； nevertheless； to enlighten
Romayne。
He made another suggestion。 〃Can we marry privately；〃 he said；
〃and tell Mrs。 Eyrecourt of it afterward？〃
This essentially masculine solution of the difficulty was at once
rejected。 Stella was too good a daughter to suffer her mother to
be treated with even the appearance of disrespect。 〃Oh；〃 she
said； 〃think how mortified and distressed my mother would be！ She
_must_ be present at my marriage。〃
An idea of a compromise occurred to Romayne。 〃What do you say；〃
he proposed； 〃to arranging for the marriage privatelyand then
telling Mrs。 Eyrecourt only a day or two beforehand； when it
would be too late to send out invitations？ If your mother would
be disappointed〃
〃She would be angry；〃 Stella interposed。
〃Very welllay all the blame on me。 Besides； there might be two
other persons present； whom I am sure Mrs。 Eyrecourt is always
glad to meet。 You don't object to Lord and Lady Loring？〃
〃Object？ They are my dearest friends； as well as yours！〃
〃Any one else； Stella？〃
〃Any one； Lewis； whom _you_ like。
〃Then I sayno one else。 My own love； when may it be？ My lawyers
can get the settlements ready