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woman in this position will descend； self… blinded； to acts of
meanness which would be revolting to her if they were related of
another person。
Stella had already begun the process of self…degradation by
writing secretly to Winterfield。 It was only to warn him of the
danger of trusting Father Benwellbut it was a letter； claiming
him as her accomplice in an act of deception。 That morning she
had received Penrose with the outward cordialities of welcome
which are offered to an old and dear friend。 And now； in the safe
solitude of her room； she had fallen to a lower depth still。 She
was deliberately considering the safest means of acquainting
herself with the confidential conversation which Romayne and
Penrose would certainly hold when she left them together。 〃He
will try to set my husband against me； and I have a right to know
what means he uses； in my own defense。〃 With that thought she
reconciled herself to an action which she would have despised if
she had heard of it as the action of another woman。
It was a beauti ful autumn day； brightened by clear sunshine；
enlivened by crisp air。 Stella put on her hat and went out for a
stroll in the grounds。
While she was within view from the windows of the servants'
offices she walked away from the house。 Turning the corner of a
shrubbery； she entered a winding path； on the other side； which
led back to the lawn under Romayne's study window。 Garden chairs
were placed here and there。 She took one of them； and seated
herselfafter a last moment of honorable hesitationwhere she
could hear the men's voices through the open window above her。
Penrose was speaking at the time。
〃Yes。 Father Benwell has granted me a holiday；〃 he said； 〃but I
don't come here to be an idle man。 You must allow me to employ my
term of leave in the pleasantest of all ways。 I mean to be your
secretary again。〃
Romayne sighed。 〃Ah； if you knew how I have missed you！〃
（Stella waited； in breathless expectation； for what Penrose would
say to this。 Would he speak of _her？_ No。 There was a natural
tact and delicacy in him which waited for the husband to
introduce the subject。）
Penrose only said； 〃How is the great work getting on？〃
The answer was sternly spoken in one word〃Badly！〃
〃I am surprised to hear that； Romayne。〃
〃Why？ Were you as innocently hopeful as I was？ Did you expect my
experience of married life to help me in writing my book？〃
Penrose replied after a pause； speaking a little sadly。 〃I
expected your married life to encourage you in all your highest
aspirations；〃 he said。
（Stella turned pale with suppressed anger。 He had spoken with
perfect sincerity。 The unhappy woman believed that he lied； for
the express purpose of rousing irritation against her； in her
husband's irritable mind。 She listened anxiously for Romayne's
answer。）
He made no answer。 Penrose changed the subject。 〃You are not
looking very well；〃 he gently resumed。 〃I am afraid your health
has interfered with your work。 Have you had any return？〃
It was still one of the characteristics of Romayne's nervous
irritability that he disliked to hear the terrible delusion of
the Voice referred to in words。 〃Yes；〃 he interposed bitterly； 〃I
have heard it again and again。 My right hand is as red as ever；
Penrose； with the blood of a fellow…creature。 Another destruction
of my illusions when I married！〃
〃Romayne！ I don't like to hear you speak of your marriage in that
way。〃
〃Oh； very well。 Let us go back to my book。 Perhaps I shall get on
better with it now you are here to help me。 My ambition to make a
name in the world has never taken so strong a hold on me （I don't
know why； unless other disappointments have had something to do
with it） as at this time； when I find I can't give my mind to my
work。 We will make a last effort together； my friend！ If it
fails； we will put my manuscripts into the fire； and I will try
some other career。 Politics are open to me。 Through politics； I
might make my mark in diplomacy。 There is something in directing
the destinies of nations wonderfully attractive to me in my
present state of feeling。 I hate the idea of being indebted for
my position in the world； like the veriest fool living； to the
accidents of birth and fortune。 Are _you_ content with the
obscure life that you lead？ Did you not envy that priest （he is
no older than I am） who was sent the other day as the Pope's
ambassador to Portugal？〃
Penrose spoke out at last without hesitation。 〃You are in a
thoroughly unwholesome state of mind；〃 he said。
Romayne laughed recklessly。 〃When was I ever in a healthy state
of mind？〃 he asked。
Penrose passed the interruption over without notice。 〃If I am to
do you any good；〃 he resumed； 〃I must know what is really the
matter with you。 The very last question that I ought to put； and
that I wish to put； is the question which you force me to ask。〃
〃What is it？〃
〃When you speak of your married life；〃 said Penrose； 〃your tone
is the tone of a disappointed man。 Have you any serious reason to
complain of Mrs。 Romayne？〃
（Stella rose to her feet； in her eagerness to hear what her
husband's answer would be。）
〃Serious reason？〃 Romayne repeated。 〃How can such an idea have
entered your head？ I only complain of irritating trifles now and
then。 Even the best of women is not perfect。 It's hard to expect
it from any of them。〃
（The interpretation of this reply depended entirely on the tone
in which it was spoken。 What was the animating spirit in this
case？ Irony or Indulgence？ Stella was ignorant of the indirect
methods of irritation； by means of which Father Benwell had
encouraged Romayne's doubts of his wife's motive for the
reception of Winterfield。 Her husband's tone； expressing this
state of mind； was new to her。 She sat down again； divided
between hope and fear； waiting to hear more。 The next words；
spoken by Penrose； astounded her。 The priest； the Jesuit； the
wily spiritual intruder between man and wife； actually took the
wife's side！）
〃Romayne；〃 he proceeded quietly； 〃I want you to be happy。〃
〃How am I to be happy？〃
〃I will try and tell you。 I believe your wife to be a good woman。
I believe she loves you。 There is something in her face that
speaks for hereven to an inexperienced person like myself。
Don't be impatient with her！ Put away from you that besetting