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purpose to avoid it。 Even his name humiliates me。 How completely
the fawning old wretch took me inwith all my knowledge of the
world； too！ He was so nice and sympatheticsuch a comforting
contrast； on that occasion； to you and your husbandI declare I
forgot every reason I had for not trusting him。 Ah； we women are
poor creatureswe may own it among ourselves。 If a man only has
nice manners and a pleasant voice； how many of us can resist him？
Even Romayne imposed upon meassisted by his property； which in
some degree excuses my folly。 There is nothing to be done now；
Stella； but to humor him。 Do as that detestable priest does； and
trust to your beauty （there isn't as much of it left as I could
wish） to turn the scale in your favor。 Have you any idea when the
new convert will come back？ I heard him ordering a fish dinner
for himself； yesterdaybecause it was Friday。 Did you join him
at dessert…time； profanely supported by meat？ What did he say？〃
〃What he has said more than once already； mama。 His peace of mind
is returning； thanks to Father Benwell。 He was perfectly gentle
and indulgentbut he looked as if he lived in a different world
from mine。 He told me he proposed to pass a week in； what he
called； Retreat。 I didn't ask him what it meant。 Whatever it is；
I suppose he is there now。〃
〃My dear； don't you remember your sister began in the same way？
_She_ retreated。 We shall have Romayne with a red nose and a
double chin； offering to pray for us next！ Do you recollect that
French maid of minethe woman I sent away； because she would
spit； when she was out of temper； like a cat？ I begin to think I
treated the poor creature harshly。 When I hear of Romayne and his
Retreat； I almost feel inclined to spit； myself。 There！ let us go
on with your reading。 Take the first volumeI have done with
it。〃
〃What is it； mama？〃
〃A very remarkable work； Stella； in the present state of light
literature in Englanda novel that actually tells a story。 It's
quite incredible； I know。 Try the book。 It has another
extraordinary meritit isn't written by a woman。〃
Stella obediently received the first volume； turned over the
leaves； and wearily dropped the wonderful novel on her lap。 〃I
can't attend to it；〃 she said。 〃My mind is too full of my own
thoughts。〃
〃About Romayne？〃 said her mother。
〃No。 When I think of my husband now； I almost wish I had his
confidence in Priests and Retreats。 The conviction grows on me；
mama； that my worst troubles are still to come。 When I was
younger； I don't remember being tormented by presentiments of any
kind。 Did I ever talk of presentiments to you； in the bygone
days？〃
〃If you had done anything of the sort； my love （excuse me； if I
speak plainly）； I should have said； 'Stella； your liver is out of
order'； and I should have opened the family medicine…chest。 I
will only say now send for the carriage； let us go to a morning
concert； dine at a restaurant； and finish the evening at the
play。〃
This characteristic proposal was entirely thrown away on Stella。
She was absorbed in pursuing her own train of thought。 〃I almost
wish I had told Lewis；〃 she said to herself absently。
〃Told him of what； my dear？〃
〃Of what happened to me with Winterfield。〃
Mrs。 Eyrecourt's faded eyes opened wide in astonishment。
〃Do you really mean it？〃 she asked。
〃I do； indeed。〃
〃Are you actually simple enough； Stella； to think that a man of
Romayne's temper would have made you his wife if you had told him
of the Brussels marriage？〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Why not！ Would Romaynewould any manbelieve that you really
did part from Winterfield at the church door？ Considering that
you are a married woman； your innocence； my sweet child； is a
perfect phenomenon！ It's well there were wiser people than you to
keep your secret。〃
〃Don't speak too positively； mama。 Lewis may find it out yet。〃
〃Is that one of your presentiments？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃How is he to find it out； if you please？〃
〃I am afraid； through Father Benwell。 Yes！ yes！ I know you only
think him a fawning old hypocriteyou don't fear him as I do。
Nothing will persuade me that zeal for his religion is the motive
under which that man acts in devoting himself to Romayne。 He has
some abominable object in view； and his eyes tell me that I am
concerned in it。〃
Mrs。 Eyrecourt burst out laughing。
〃What is there to laugh at？〃 Stella asked。
〃I declare； my dear； there is something absolutely provoking in
your utter want of knowledge of the world！ When you are puzzled
to account for anything remarkable in a clergyman's conduct （I
don't care； my poor child； to what denomination he belongs） you
can't be wrong in attributing his motive toMoney。 If Romayne
had turned Baptist or Methodist； the reverend gentleman in charge
of his spiritual welfare would not have forgottenas you have
forgotten； you little goosethat his convert was a rich man。 His
mind would have dwelt on the chapel； or the mission； or the
infant school； in want of funds； andwith no more abominable
object in view than I have； at this moment； in poking the
firehe would have ended in producing his modest subscription
list and would have betrayed himself （just as our odious Benwell
will betray himself） by the two amiable little words； Please
contribute。 Is there any other presentiment； my dear； on which
you would like to have your mother's candid opinion？〃
Stella resignedly took up the book again。
〃I daresay you are right；〃 she said。 〃Let us read our novel。〃
Before she had reached the end of the first page； her mind was
far away again from the unfortunate story。 She was thinking of
that 〃other presentiment；〃 which had formed the subject of her
mother's last satirical inquiry。 The vague fear that had shaken
her when she had accidentally touched the French boy； on her
visit to Camp's Hill； still from time to time troubled her
memory。 Even the event of his death had failed to dissipate the
delusion； which associated him with some undefined evil influence
that might yet assert itself。 A superstitious forewarning of this
sort was a weakness new to her in her experience of herself。 She
was heartily ashamed of itand yet it kept its hold。 Once more
the book dropped on her lap。 She laid it aside； and walked
wearily to the window to look at the weather。
Almost at the same moment Mrs。 Eyrecourt's maid