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what you have donebut you may trust me to put it favorably。
Shake hands； my son； and； while we are still together； let us be
as good friends as ever。〃
You may think that I spoke in this way with a view to my
indulgent language being repeated to Romayne； and so improving
the position which I have already gained in his estimation。 Do
you know； I really believe I meant it at the time！ The poor
fellow gratefully kissed my hand when I offered it to himhe was
not able to speak。 I wonder whether I am weak about Arthur？ Say a
kind word for him； when his conduct comes under noticebut pray
don't mention this little frailty of mine； and don't suppose I
have any sympathy with his weak…minded submission to Mrs。
Romayne's prejudices。 If I ever felt the smallest consideration
for _her_ （and I cannot call to mind any amiable emotion of that
sort）； her letter to Winterfield would have effectually
extinguished it。 There is something quite revolting to me in a
deceitful woman。
In closing this letter； I may quiet the minds of our reverend
brethren； if I assure them that my former objection to
associating myself directly with the conversion of Romayne no
longer exists。
Yes！ even at my age； and with my habits； I am now resigned to
hearing； and confuting； the trivial arguments of a man who is
young enough to be my son。 I shall write a carefully…guarded
letter to Romayne； on the departure of Penrose； and I shall send
him a book to read； from the influence of which I expect
gratifying results。 It is not a controversial work （Arthur has
been beforehand with me there）it is Wiseman's 〃Recollections of
the Popes。〃 I look to that essentially readable book to excite
Romayne's imagination； by vivid descriptions of the splendors of
the Church； and the vast influence and power of the higher
priesthood。 Does this sudden enthusiasm of mine surprise you？ And
are you altogether at a loss to know what it means？
It means； my friend； that I see our position toward Romayne in a
new light。 Forgive me； if I say no more for the present。 I prefer
to be silent； until my audacity is justified by events。
… * Father Benwell's experience had； in this case； not misled
him。 If Stella had remained unmarried； Winterfield might have
justified himself。 But he was honorably unwilling to disturb her
relations with her husband； by satisfying her that he had never
been unworthy of the affection which had once united them。
CHAPTER V。
BERNARD WINTERFIELD'S CORRESPONDENCE。
I。
_From Mrs。 Romayne to Mr。 Winterfield。_
HAS my letter failed to reach you？ I directed it （as I direct
this） to Beaupark； not knowing your London address。
Yesterday； Father Benwell called at Ten Acres Lodge。 He first saw
my mother and myself and he contrived to mention your name。 It
was done with his usual adroitness； and I might perhaps have
passed it over if he had not looked at me。 I hope and pray it may
be only my fancybut I thought I saw； in his eyes； that he was
conscious of having me in his power； and that he might betray me
to my husband at any moment。
I have no sort of claim on you。 And； Heaven knows； I have little
reason to trust you。 But I thought you meant fairly by me when we
spoke together at this house。 In that belief； I entreat you to
tell me if Father Benwell has intruded himself into your
confidenceor even if you have hinted anything to him which
gives him a hold over me。
II。
_From Mr。 Winterfield to Mrs。 Romayne。_
Both your letters have reached me。
I have good reason for believing that you are entirely mistaken
in your estimate of Father Benwell's character。 But I know； by
sad experience； how you hold to your opinions when they are once
formed； and I am eager to relieve you of all anxiety； so far as I
am concerned。 I have not said one wordI have not even let slip
the slightest hintwhich could inform Father Benwell of that
past event in our lives to which your letter alludes。 Your secret
is a sacred secret to me； and it has been； and shall be； sacredly
kept。
There is a sentence in your letter which has given me great pain。
You reiterate the cruel language of the bygone time。 You say；
〃Heaven knows I have little reason to trust you。〃
I have reasons； on my side； for not justifying myselfexcept
under certain conditions。 I mean under conditions which might
place me in a position to serve and advise you as a friend or
brother。 In that case； I undertake to prove； even to you； that it
was a cruel injustice ever to have doubted me； and that there is
no man living whom y ou can more implicitly trust than myself。
My address； when I am in London； is at the head of this page。
III。
_From Dr。 Wybrow to Mr。 Winterfield。_
Dear SirI have received your letter； mentioning that you wish
to accompany me； at my next visit to the asylum； to see the
French boy； so strangely associated with the papers delivered to
you by Father Benwell。
Your proposal reaches me too late。 The poor creature's troubled
life has come to an end。 He never rallied from the exhausting
effect of the fever。 To the last he was attended by his mother。
I write with true sympathy for that excellent ladybut I cannot
conceal from you or from myself that this death is not to be
regretted。 In a case of the same extraordinary kind； recorded in
print； the patient recovered from the fever； and his insanity
returned with his returning health。
Faithfully yours；
JOSEPH WYBROW。
CHAPTER VI。
THE SADDEST OF ALL WORDS。
ON the tenth morning； dating from the dispatch of Father
Benwell's last letter to Rome； Penrose was writing in the study
at Ten Acres Lodge； while Romayne sat at the other end of the
room； looking listlessly at a blank sheet of paper； with the pen
lying idle beside it。 On a sudden he rose； and； snatching up
paper and pen； threw them irritably into the fire。
〃Don't trouble yourself to write any longer；〃 he said to Penrose。
〃My dream is over。 Throw my manuscripts into the waste paper
basket； and never speak to me of literary work again。〃
〃Every man devoted to literature has these fits of despondency；〃
Penrose answered。 〃Don't think of your work。 Send for your horse；
and trust to fresh air and exercise to relieve your mind。〃
Romayne barely listened。 He turned round at the fireplace and
studied t