按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Your generosity has conquered me；〃 he said。 〃But I must be
allowed to clear myself of even the suspicion of an interested
motive。 On the day when your will is executed； I shall write to
the General of our Order at Rome； leaving my inheritance to him。
This proceeding will be followed by a deed； in due form；
conveying the property to the Church。 You have no objection to my
taking that course？ No？ My dear Romayne； words are useless at
such a time as this。 My acts shall speak for me。 I am too
agitated to say more。 Let us talk of something elselet us have
some wine。〃
He filled the glasses； he offered more biscuits。he was really；
and even perceptibly； agitated by the victory that he had won。
But one last necessity now confronted himthe necessity of
placing a serious obstacle in the way of any future change of
purpose on the part of Romayne。 As to the choice of that
obstacle； Father Benwell's mind had been made up for some time
past。
〃What _was_ it I had to say to you？〃 he resumed 〃Surely； I was
speaking on the subject of your future life？〃
〃You are very kind； Father Benwell。 The subject has little
interest for me。 My future life is shaped outdomestic
retirement； ennobled by religious duties。〃
Still pacing the room； Father Benwell stopped at that reply； and
put his hand kindly on Romayne's shoulder。
〃We don't allow a good Catholic to drift into domestic
retirement； who is worthy of better things；〃 he said。 〃The
Church； Romayne wishes to make use of you。 I never flattered any
one in my life； but I may say before your face what I have said
behind your back。 A man of your strict sense of honorof your
intellectof your high aspirationsof your personal charm and
influenceis not a man whom we can allow to run to waste。 Open
your mind； my friend； fairly to me； and I will open my mind
fairly to you。 Let me set the example。 I say it with authority；
an enviable future is before you。〃
Romayne's pale cheeks flushed with excitement。 〃What future？〃 he
asked； eagerly。 〃Am I free to choose？ Must I remind you that a
man with a wife cannot think only of himself？〃
〃Suppose you were _not_ a man with a wife。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃Romayne； I am trying to break my way through that inveterate
reserve which is one of the failings in your character。 Unless
you can prevail on yourself to tell me those secret thoughts；
those unexpressed regrets； which you can confide to no other man；
this conversation must come to an end。 Is there no yearning； in
your inmost soul； for anything beyond the position which you now
occupy？〃
There was。 a pause。 The flush on Romayne' s face faded away。 He
was silent。
〃You are not in the confessional；〃 Father Benwell reminded him；
with melancholy submission to circumstances。 〃You are under no
obligation to answer me。〃
Romayne roused himself。 He spoke in low； reluctant tones。 〃I am
afraid to answer you；〃 he said。
That apparently discouraging reply armed Father Benwell with the
absolute confidence of success which he had thus far failed to
feel。 He wound his way deeper and deeper into Romayne's mind；
with the delicate ingenuity of penetration； of which the practice
of years had made him master。
〃Perhaps I have failed to make myself clearly understood；〃 he
said。 〃I will try to put it more plainly。 You are no half…hearted
man； Romayne。 What you believe； you believe fervently。
Impressions are not dimly and slowly produced on _your_ mind。 As
the necessary result； your conversion being once accomplished；
your whole soul is given to the Faith that is in you。 Do I read
your character rightly？〃
〃So far as I know ityes。〃
Father Benwell went on。
〃Bear in mind what I have just said；〃 he resumed； 〃and you will
understand why I feel it my duty to press the question which you
have not answered yet。 You have found in the Catholic Faith the
peace of mind which you have failed to obtain by other means。 If
I had been dealing with an ordinary man； I should have expected
from the change no happier result than this。 But I ask You； has
that blessed influence taken no deeper and nobler hold on your
heart？ Can you truly say to me； 'I am content with what I have
gained； I wish for no more'？〃
〃I cannot truly say it；〃 Romayne answered。
The time had now come for speaking plainly。 Father Benwell no
longer advanced to his end under cover of a cloud of words。
〃A little while since；〃 he said； 〃you spoke of Penrose as of a
man whose lot in life you longed to share。 The career which has
associated him with an Indian mission is； as I told you； only
adapted to a man of his special character and special gifts。 But
the career which has carried him into the sacred ranks of the
priesthood is open to every man who feels the sense of divine
vocation； which has made Penrose one of Us。〃
〃No； Father Benwell！ Not open to every man。〃
〃I say； Yes！〃
〃It is not open to Me！〃
〃I say it is open to You。 And moreI enjoin； I command； you to
dismiss from your mind all merely human obstacles and
discouragements。 They are beneath the notice of a man who feels
himself called to the priesthood。 Give me your hand； Romayne！
Does your conscience tell you that you are that man？〃
Romayne started to his feet； shaken to the soul by the solemnity
of the appeal。
〃I can't dismiss the obstacles that surround me！〃 he cried；
passionately。 〃To a man in my position； your advice is absolutely
useless。 The ties that bind me are beyond the limit of a priest's
sympathies。〃
〃Nothing is beyond the limit of a priest's sympathies。〃
〃Father Benwell； I am married！〃
Father Benwell folded his arms over his breastlooked with
immovable resolution straight in Romayne's faceand struck the
blow which he had been meditating for months past。
〃Rouse your courage；〃 he said sternly。 〃You are no more married
than I am。〃
CHAPTER IV。
ON THE ROAD TO ROME。
THERE was not a sound in the room。 Romayne stood； looking at the
priest
〃Did you hear what I said？〃 Father Benwell asked。
〃Yes。〃
〃Do you understand that I really mean what I said？〃
He made no replyhe waited； like a man expecting to hear more。
Father Benwell was alive to the vast importance； at such a
moment； of not shrinking from the responsibility which he had
assumed。 〃I se