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But I have something to say to you firstand I beg to offer the
hospitality of my lodgings。〃
The time had been when Romayne would have asked for some
explanation of this abrupt notice of removal。 Now； he passively
accepted the advice of his spiritual director。 Father Benwell
made the necessary communication to the authorities； and Romayne
took leave of his friends in The Retreat。 The great Jesuit and
the great landowner left the place； with becoming humility； in a
cab。
〃I hope I have not disappointed you？〃 said Father Benwell。
〃I am only anxious；〃 Romayne answered； 〃to hear what you have to
say。〃
CHAPTER III。
THE HARVEST IS REAPED。
ON their way through the streets； Father Benwell talked as
persistently of the news of the day as if he had nothing else in
his thoughts。 To keep his companion's mind in a state of suspense
was； in certain emergencies； to exert a useful preparatory
influence over a man of Romayne's character。 Even when they
reached his lodgings； the priest still hesitated to approach the
object that he had in view。 He made considerate inquiries； in the
character of a hospitable man。
〃They breakfast early at The Retreat；〃 he said。 〃What may I offer
you？〃
〃I want nothing； thank you；〃 Romayne answered； with an effort to
control his habitual impatience of needless delay。
〃Pardon mewe have a long interview before us； I fear。 Our
bodily necessities； Romayne （excuse me if I take the friendly
liberty of suppressing the formal 'Mr。'）our bodily necessities
are not to be trifled with。 A bottle of my famous claret； and a
few biscuits； will not hurt either of us。〃 He rang the bell； and
gave the necessary directions 〃Another damp day！〃 he went on
cheerfully。 〃I hope you don't pay the rheumatic penalties of a
winter residence in England？ Ah； this glorious country would be
too perfect if it possessed the delicious climate of Rome！〃
The wine and biscuits were brought in。 Father Benwell filled the
glasses and bowed cordially to his guest。
〃Nothing of this sort at The Retreat！〃 he said gayly。 〃Excellent
water； I am toldwhich is a luxury in its way； especially in
London。 Well； my dear Romayne； I must begin by making my
apologies。 You no doubt thought me a little abrupt in running
away with you from your retirement at a moment's notice？〃
〃I believed that you had good reasons； Fatherand that was
enough for me。〃
〃Thank youyou do me justiceit was in your best interests that
I acted。 There are men of phlegmatic temperament； over whom the
wise monotony of discipline at The Retreat exercises a wholesome
influenceI mean an influence which may be prolonged with
advantage。 You are not one of those persons。 Protracted seclusion
and monotony of life are morally and mentally unprofitable to a
man of your ardent disposition。 I abstained from mentioning these
reasons； at the time； out of a feeling of regard for our
excellent resident director； who believes unreservedly in the
institution over which he presides。 Very good！ The Retreat has
done all that it could usefully do in your case。 We must think
next of how to employ that mental activity which； rightly
developed； is one of the most valuable qualities that you
possess。 Let me ask； first； if you have in some degree recovered
your tranquillity？〃
〃I feel like a different man； Father Benwell。〃
〃That's right！ And your nervous sufferingsI don't ask what they
are； I only want to know if you experience a sense of relief？〃
〃A most welcome sense of relief；〃 Romayne answered； with a
revival of the enthusiasm of other days。 〃The complete change in
all my thoughts and convictions which I owe to you〃
〃And to dear Penrose；〃 Father Benwell interposed； with the prompt
sense of justice which no man could more becomingly assume。 〃We
must not forget Arthur。〃
〃Forget him？〃 Romayne repeated。 〃Not a day passes without my
thinking of him。 It is one of the happy results of the change in
me that my mind does not dwell bitterly on the loss of him now。 I
think of Penrose with admiration； as of one whose glorious life；
with all its dangers； I should like to share！〃
He spoke with a rising color and brightening eyes。 Already； the
absorbent capacity of the Roman Church had drawn to itself that
sympathetic side of his character which was also one of its
strongest sides。 Already； his love for Penrosehitherto inspired
by the virtues of the manhad narrowed its range to sympathy
with the trials and privileges of the priest。 Truly and deeply；
indeed； had the physician consulted； in bygone days； reasoned on
Romayne's case！ That 〃occurrence of some new and absorbing
influence in his life；〃 of which the doctor had spokenthat
〃working of some complete change in his habits of thought〃had
found its way to him at last； after the wife's simple devotion
had failed； through the subtler ministrations of the priest。
Some men； having Father Benwell's object in view； would have
taken instant advantage of the opening offered to them by
Romayne's unguarded enthusiasm。 The illustrious Jesuit held fast
by the wise maxim which forbade him to do anything in a hurry。
〃No；〃 he said； 〃your life must not be the life of our dear
friend。 The service on which the Church employs Penrose is not
the fit service for you。 You have other claims on us。〃
Romayne looked at his spiritual adviser with a momentary change
of expressiona relapse into the ironical bitterness of the past
time。
〃Have you forgotten that I am； and can be； only a layman？〃 he
asked。 〃What claims can I have； except the common claim of all
faithful members of the Church on the good offices of the
priesthood？〃 He paused for a moment； and continued with the
abruptness of a man struck by a new idea。 〃Yes！ I have perhaps
one small aim of my ownthe claim of being allowed to do my
duty。〃
〃In what respect； dear Romayne？〃
〃Surely you can guess？ I am a rich man； I have money lying idle；
which it is my duty （and my privilege） to devote to the charities
and necessities of the Church。 And； while I am speaking of this；
I must own that I am a little surprised at your having said
nothing to me on the subject。 You have never yet pointed out to
me the manner in which I might devote my money to the best and
noblest uses。 Was it forgetfulness on your part？〃
Father Benwell shook his head。 〃No；〃 he replied； 〃I can't
honestly say that。〃
〃T