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corrupt。 By what inscrutable fatality do some men find their way
into spheres that are unworthy of them？ Oh； Penrose； if the
priests of your Order were all like you； how easily I should be
converted！ These were Romayne's thoughts； in the stillness of the
first hours of the morning。 The books of which his lost friend
had spoken were close by him on the table。 He opened one of them；
and turned to a page marked by pencil lines。 His sensitive nature
was troubled to its inmost depths。 The confession of that Faith
which had upheld Penrose was before him in words。 The impulse was
strong in him to read those words； and think over them again。
He trimmed his lamp； and bent his mind on his book。 While he was
still reading； the ball at Lord Loring's house came to its end。
Stella and Lady Loring were alone together； talking of him；
before they retired to their rooms。
〃Forgive me for owning it plainly；〃 said Lady Loring〃I think
you and your mother are a little too ready to suspect Father
Benwell without any discoverable cause。 Thousands of people go to
Clovelly； and Beaupark House is one of the show…places in the
neighborhood。 Is there a little Protestant prejudice in this new
idea of yours？〃
Stella made no reply； she seemed to be lost in her own thoughts。
Lady Loring went on。
〃I am open to conviction； my dear。 If you will only tell me what
interest Father Benwell can have in knowing about you and
Winterfield〃
Stella suddenly looked up。 〃Let us speak of another person；〃 she
said； 〃I own I don't like Father Benwell。 As you know； Romayne
has concealed nothing from me。 Ought I to have any concealments
from _him？_ Ought I not to tell him about Winterfield？〃
Lady Loring started。 〃You astonish me；〃 she said。 〃What right has
Romayne to know it？〃
〃What right have I to keep it a secret from him？〃
〃My dear Stella！ if you had been in any way to blame in that
miserable matter； I should be the last person in the world to
advise you to keep it a secret。 But you are innocent of all
blame。 No mannot even the man who is soon to be your
husbandhas a right to know what you have so unjustly suffered。
Think of the humiliation of even speaking of it to Romayne！〃
〃I daren't think of it；〃 cried Stella passionately。 〃But if it is
my duty〃
〃It is your duty to consider the consequences；〃 Lady Loring
interposed。 〃You don't know how such things sometimes rankle in a
man's mind。 He may be perfectly willing to do you justiceand
yet； there may be moments when he would doubt if you had told him
the whole truth。 I speak with the experience of a married woman。
Don't place yourself in _that_ position toward your husband； if
you wish for a happy married life。〃
Stella was not quite convinced yet。 〃Suppose Romayne finds it
out？〃 she said。
〃He can't possibly find it out。 I detest Winterfield； but let us
do him justice。 He is no fool。 He has his position in the world
to keep upand that is enough of itself to close his lips。 And
as for others； there are only three people now in England who
_could_ betray you。 I suppose you can trust your mother； and Lord
Loring； and me？〃
It was needless to answer such a question as that。 Before Stella
could speak again； Lord Loring's voice was audible outside the
door。 〃What！ talking still；〃 he exclaimed。 〃Not in bed yet？〃
〃Come in！〃 cried his wife。 〃Let us hear what my husband thinks；〃
she said to Stella。
Lord Loring listened with the closest attention while the subject
under discussion was communicated to him。 When the time came to
give his opinion； he sided unhesitatingly with his wife。
〃If the fault was yours； even in the slightest degree；〃 he said
to Stella； 〃Romayne would have a right to be taken into your
confidence。 But； my dear child； we； who know the truth； know you
to be a pure and innocent woman。 You go to Romayne in every way
worthy of him； and you know that he loves you。 If you did tell
him that miserable story； he could only pity you。 Do you want to
be pitied？〃
Those last unanswerable words brought the debate to an end。 From
that moment the subject was dropped。
There was still one other person among the guests at the ball who
was waking in the small hours of the morning。 Father Benwell；
wrapped comfortably in his dressing gown； was too hard at work on
his correspondence to think of his bed。 With one exception； all
the letters that he had written thus far were closed； directed
and stamped for the post。 The letter that he kept open he was now
engaged in reconsidering and correcting。 It was addressed as
usual to the Secretary of the Order at Rome； and； when it had
undergone the final revision； it contained these lines：
My last letter informed you of Romayne's return to London and to
Miss Eyrecourt。 Let me entreat our reverend brethren to preserve
perfect tranquillity of mind； in spite of this circumstance。 The
owner of Vange Abbey is not married yet。 If patience and
perseverance on my part win their fair reward； Miss Eyrecourt
shall never be his wife。
But let me not conceal the truth。 In the uncertain future that
lies before us； I have no one to depend on but myself。 Penrose is
no longer to be trusted； and the exertions of the agent to whom I
committed my inquiries are exertions that have failed。
I will dispose of the case of Penrose first。
The zeal with which this young man has undertaken the work of
conversion intrusted to him has； I regret to say； not been fired
by devotion to the interests of the Church； but by a dog…like
affection for Romayne。 Without waiting for my permission； Penrose
has revealed himself in his true character as a priest。 And； more
than this； he has not only refused to observe the proceedings of
Romayne and Miss Eyrecourthe has deliberately closed his ears
to the confidence which Romayne wished to repose in him； on the
ground that I might have ordered him to repeat that confidence to
me。
To what use can we put this poor fellow's ungovernable sense of
honor and gratitude？ Under present circumstances； he is clearly
of little use to us。 I have therefore given him time to think。
That is to say； I have not opposed his leaving London； to assist
in the spiritual care of a country district。 It will be a
question for the future； whether we may not turn his enthusiasm
to good account in a foreign mission。 However； as it is always
possible that his influ