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He turned on me sharply。 〃I don't know。 Do you？〃
I ventured on a courteous remonstrance。 〃My dear sir！ if you
can't find another reason； how can I？ It must have been a sudden
antipathy； as you say。 Such things do happen between strangers。 I
suppose I am right in assuming that Mrs。 Romayne and Mr。
Winterfield are strangers？〃
His eyes flashed with a sudden sinister brightnessthe new idea
had caught light in his mind。 〃They _met_ as strangers；〃 he said。
There he stopped again； and returned to the window。 I felt that I
might lose the place I had gained in his confidence if I pressed
the subject any further。 Besides； I had my reasons for saying a
word about Penrose next。 As it happened； I had received a letter
from him； relating to his present employment； and sending kindest
regards to his dear friend and master in the postscript。
I gave the message。 Romayne looked round； with an instant change
in his face。 The mere sound of Penrose's name seemed to act as a
relief to the gloom and suspicion that had oppressed him the
moment before。 〃You don't know how I miss the dear gentle little
fellow；〃 he said； sadly。
〃Why not write to him？〃 I suggested。 〃He would be so glad to hear
from you again。〃
〃I don't know where to write。〃
〃Did I not send you his address when I forwarded your letter to
him？〃
〃No。〃
〃Then let me atone for my forgetfulness at once。〃
I wrote down the address； and took my leave。
As I approached the door I noticed on a side table the Catholic
volumes which Penrose left with Romayne。 One of them was open；
with a pencil lying beside it。 I thought that a good signbut I
said nothing。
Romayne pressed my hand at parting。 〃You have been very kind and
friendly； Father Benwell；〃 he said。 〃I shall be glad to see you
again。〃
Don't mention it in quarters where it might do me harm。 Do you
know； I really pitied him。 He has sacrificed everything to his
marriageand his marriage has disappointed him。 He was even
reduced to be friendly with Me。
Of course when the right time comes I shall give Penrose leave of
absence。 Do you foresee； as I do； the speedy return of 〃the dear
gentle little fellow〃 to his old employment； the resumed work of
conversion advancing more rapidly than ever； and the jealousy of
the Protestant wife aggravating the false position in which she
is already placed by her equivocal reception of Winterfield？ You
may answer this by reminding me of the darker side of the
prospect。 An heir may be born； and the heir's mother； backed by
general opinion； may insistif there is any hesitation in the
matteron asserting the boy's natural right to succeed his
father。
Patience； my reverend colleague！ There is no threatening of any
such calamity yet。 And； even if it happens； don't forget that
Romayne has inherited a second fortune。 The Vange estate has an
estimated value。 If the act of restitution represented that value
in ready money； do you think the Church would discourage a good
convert by refusing his check？ You know better than thatand so
do I。
The next day I called to inquire how Mrs。 Eyrecourt was getting
on。 The report was favorable。 Three days later I called again。
The report was still more encouraging。 I was also informed that
Mrs。 Romayne had returned to Ten Acres Lodge。
Much of my success in life has been achieved by never being in a
hurry。 I was not in a hurry now。 Time sometimes brings
opportunitiesand opportunities are worth waiting for。
Let me make this clear by an example。
A man of headlong disposition； in my place； would have probably
spoken of Miss Eyrecourt's marriage to Romayne at his first
meeting with Winterfield； and would have excited their distrust；
and put them respectively on their guard； without obtaining any
useful result。 I can； at any time； make the disclosure to Romayne
which informs him that his wife had been Winterfield's guest in
Devonshire； when she affected to meet her former host on the
footing of a stranger。 In the meanwhile； I give Penrose ample
opportunity for innocently widening the breach between husband
and wife。
You see； I hope； that if I maintain a passive position； it is not
from indolence or discouragement。 Now we may get on。
After an interval of a few days more I decided on making further
inquiries at Mrs。 Eyrecourt's house。 This time； when I left my
card； I sent a message； asking if the lady could receive me。
Shall I own my weakness？ She possesses all the information that I
want； and she has twice baffled my inquiries。 Under these
humiliating circumstances； it is part of the priestly pugnacity
of my disposition to inquire again。
I was invited to go upstairs。
The front and back drawing…rooms of the house were thrown into
one。 Mrs。 Eyrecourt was being gently moved backward and forward
in a chair on wheels； propelled by her maid； two gentlemen being
present； visitors like myself。 In spite of rouge and loosely
folded lace and flowing draperies； she presented a deplorable
spectacle。 The bodily part of her looked like a dead woman；
painted and revivedwhile the moral part； in the strongest
contrast； was just as lively as ever。
〃So glad to see you again； Father Benwell； and so much obliged by
your kind inquiries。 I am quite well； though the doctor won't
admit it。 Isn't it funny to see me being wheeled about； like a
child in a perambulator？ Returning to first principles； I call
it。 You see it's a law of my nature that I must go about。 The
doctor won't let me go about outside the house； so I go about
inside the house。 Matilda is the nurse； and I am the baby who
will learn to walk some of these days。 Are you tired； Matilda？
No？ Then give me another turn； there's a good creature。 Movement；
perpetual movement； is a law of Nature。 Oh； dear no； doctor； I
didn't make that discovery for myself。 Some eminent scientific
person mentioned it in a lecture。 The ugliest man I ever saw。 Now
back again； Matilda。 Let me introduce you to my friends； Father
Benwell。 Introducing is out of fashion； I know。 But I am one of
the few women who can resist the tyranny of fashion。 I like
introducing people。 Sir John DroneFather Benwell。 Father
BenwellDoctor Wybrow。 Ah； yes； you know the doctor by
reputation？ Shall I give you his character？ Personally charming；
professionally detestable。 Pardon my impudence； doctor；