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Penrose stopped and looked at her attentively。
〃Are you strongly opposed to your husband's conversion？〃 he
asked。
〃As strongly；〃 she answered； 〃as a woman can be。〃
〃By religious conviction； Mrs。 Romayne？〃
〃No。 By experience。〃
Penrose started。 〃Is it indiscreet；〃 he said gently； 〃to inquire
what your experience may have been？〃
〃I will tell you what my experience has been；〃 Stella replied。 〃I
am ignorant of theological subtleties； and questions of doctrine
are quite beyond me。 But this I do know。 A well…meaning and
zealous Catholic shortened my father's life； and separated me
from an only sister whom I dearly loved。 I see I shock youand I
daresay you think I am exaggerating？〃
〃I hear what you say； Mrs。 Romayne； with very great painI don't
presume to form any opinion thus far。〃
〃My sad story can be told in a few words；〃 Stella proceeded。
〃When my elder sister was still a young girl； an aunt of ours （my
mother's sister） came to stay with us。 She had married abroad；
and she was； as I have said； a zealous Catholic。 Unknown to the
rest of us； she held conversations on religion with my
sisterworked on the enthusiasm which was part of the girl's
natureand accomplished her conversion。 Other influences； of
which I know nothing； were afterward brought to bear on my
sister。 She declared her intention of entering a convent。 As she
was under age； my father had only to interpose his authority to
prevent this。 She was his favorite child。 He had no heart to
restrain her by forcehe could only try all that the kindest and
best of fathers could do to persuade her to remain at home。 Even
after the years that have passed； I cannot trust myself to speak
of it composedly。 She persisted； she was as hard as stone。 My
aunt； when she was entreated to interfere； called her heartless
obstinacy 'a vocation。' My poor father's loving resistance was
worn out； he slowly drew nearer and nearer to death； from the day
when she left us。 Let me do her justice； if I can。 She has not
only never regretted entering the conventshe is so happily
absorbed in her religious duties that she has not the slightest
wish to see her mother or me。 My mother's patience was soon worn
out。 The last time I went to the convent； I went by myself。 I
shall never go there again。 She could not conceal her sense of
relief when I took my leave of her。 I need say no more。 Arguments
are thrown away on me； Mr。 Penrose； after what I have seen and
felt。 I have no right to expect that the consideration of my
happiness will influence youbut I may perhaps ask you； as a
gentleman； to tell me the truth。 Do you come here with the
purpose of converting my husband？〃
Penrose owned the truth； without an instant's hesitation。
〃I cannot take your view of your sister's pious devotion of
herself to a religious life；〃 he said。 〃But I can； and will；
answer you truly。 From the time when I first knew him； my dearest
object has been to convert your husband to the Catholic Faith。〃
Stella drew back from him； as if he had stung her； and clasped
her hands in silent despair。
〃But I am bound as a Christian；〃 he went on； 〃to do to others as
I would they should do to me。〃
She turned on him suddenly； her beautiful face radiant with hope；
her hand trembling as it caught him by the arm。
〃Speak plainly！〃 she cried。
He obeyed her to the letter。
〃The happiness of my friend's wife； Mrs。 Romayne； is sacred to me
for his sake。 Be the good angel of your husband's life。 I abandon
the purpose of converting him。〃
He lifted her hand from his arm and raised it respectfully to his
lips。 Then； when he had bound himself by a promise that was
sacred to him； the terrible influence of the priesthood shook
even that brave and lofty soul。 He said to himself； as he left
her； 〃God forgive me if I have done wrong！〃
CHAPTER III。
WINTERFIELD RETURNS。
TWICE Father Benwell called at Derwent's Hotel； and twice he was
informed that no news had been received there of Mr。 Winterfield。
At the third attempt； his constancy was rewarded。 Mr。 Winterfield
had written； and was expected to arrive at the hotel by five
o'clock。
It was then half…past four。 Father Benwell decided to await the
return of his friend。
He was as anxious to deliver the papers which the proprietor of
the asylum had confided to him； as if he had never broken a seal
or used a counterfeit to hide the betrayal of a trust。 The
re…sealed packet was safe in the pocket of his long black
frockcoat。 His own future proceedings depended； in some degree；
on the course which Winterfield might take； when he had read the
confession of the unhappy woman who had once been his wife。
Would he show the letter to Stella； at a private interview； as an
unanswerable proof that she had cruelly wronged him？ And would it
in this case be desirableif the thing could be doneso to
handle circumstances as that Romayne might be present； unseen；
and might discover the truth for himself？ In the other
eventthat is to say； if Winterfield abstained from
communicating the confession to Stellathe responsibility of
making the necessary disclosure must remain with the priest。
Father Benwell walked softly up and down the room； looking about
him with quietly…observant eye。 A side table in a corner was
covered with letters； waiting Winterfield's return。 Always ready
for information of any sort； he even looked at the addresses on
the letters。
The handwritings presented the customary variety of character。
All but three of the envelopes showed the London district
postmarks。 Two of the other letters （addressed to Winterfield at
his club） bore foreign postmarks； and one； as the altered
direction showed； had been forward from Beaupark House to the
hotel。
This last letter especially attracted the priest's attention。
The address was apparently in a woman's handwriting。 And it was
worthy of remark that she appeared to be the only person among
Winterfield's correspondents who was not acquainted with the
address of his hotel or of his club。 Who could the person be？ The
subtly inquiring intellect of Father Benwell amused itself by
speculating even on such a trifling problem as this。 He little
thought that he had a personal interest in the letter。 The
envelope contained Stella's warning to Winterfield to distrust no
less a person than Father Benwell himself！