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that keep you in England？〃
〃My duties； Romayne； are already confided to other hands。〃
〃Then you have foreseen this？〃
〃I have thought it possible。 Your journey may be long； or it may
be shortyou shall not go away alone。〃
〃I can think of nothing yet； my mind is a blank；〃 Romayne
confessed sadly。 〃I don't know where I shall go。〃
〃I know where you ought to goand where you _will_ go；〃 said
Father Benwell； emphatically。
〃Where？〃
〃To Rome。〃
Romayne understood the true meaning of that brief reply。 A vague
sense of dismay began to rise in his mind。 While he was still
tortured by doubt； it seemed as if Father Benwell had； by some
inscrutable process of prevision； planned out his future
beforehand。 Had the priest foreseen events？
Nohe had only foreseen possibilities； on the day when it first
occurred to him that Romayne's marriage was assailable； before
the court of Romayne's conscience； from the Roman Catholic point
of view。 By this means； the misfortune of Romayne's marriage
having preceded his conversion might be averted； and the one
certain obstacle in the way of any change of purpose on his
partthe obstacle of the priesthoodmight still be set up； by
the voluntary separation of the husband from the wife。 Thus far
the Jesuit had modestly described himself to his reverend
colleagues； as regarding his position toward Romayne in a new
light。 His next letter might boldly explain to them what he had
really meant。 The triumph was won。 Not a word more passed between
his guest and himself that morning。
Before post…time； on the same day； Father Benwell wrote his last
report to the Secretary of the Society of Jesus； in these lines：
〃Romayne is free from the domestic ties that bound him。 He leaves
it to me to restore Vange Abbey to the Church； and he
acknowledges a vocation for the priesthood。 Expect us at Rome in
a fortnight's time。〃
AFTER THE STORY。
EXTRACTS FROM BERNARD WINTERFIELD'S DIARY。
I。
WINTERFIELD DEFENDS HIMSELF。
Beaupark House； June 17th； 18。
You and I； Cousin Beeminster； seldom meet。 But I occasionally
hear of you； from friends acquainted with both of us。
I have heard of you last at Sir Philip's rent…day dinner a week
since。 My name happened to be mentioned by one of the gentlemen
present； a guest like yourself。 You took up the subject of your
own free will； and spoke of me in these terms：
〃I am sorry to say it of the existing head of the familybut
Bernard is really unfit for the position which he holds。 He has；
to say the least of it； compromised himself and his relatives on
more than one occasion。 He began as a young man by marrying a
circus…rider。 He got into some other scrape； after that； which he
has contrived to keep a secret from us。 We only know how
disgraceful it must have been by the resultshe was a voluntary
exile from England for more than a year。 And now； to complete the
list； he has mixed himself up in that miserable and revolting
business of Lewis Romayne and his wife。〃
If any other person had spoken of me in this manner； I should
have set him down as a mischievous idiotto be kicked perhaps；
but not to be noticed in any other way。
With you； the case is different。 If I die without male offspring；
the Beaupark estate goes to you； as next heir。
I don't choose to let a man in this position slander me； and
those dear to me； without promptly contradicting him。 The name I
bear is precious to me； in memory of my father。 Your unanswered
allusion to my relations with 〃Lewis Romayne and his wife；〃
coming from a member of the family； will be received as truth。
Rather than let this be； I reveal to you； without reserve； some
of the saddest passages of my life。 I have nothing to be ashamed
ofand； if I have hitherto kept certain events in the dark； it
has been for the sake of others； not for my own sake。 I know
better now。 A woman's reputationif she is a good womanis not
easily compromised by telling the truth。 The person of whom I am
thinking； when I write this； knows what I am going to doand
approves of it。
You will receive； with these lines； the most perfectly candid
statement that I can furnish； being extracts cut out of my own
private Diary。 They are accompanied （where plain necessity seems
to call for it） by the written evidence of other persons。
There has never been much sympathy between us。 But you have been
brought up like a gentlemanand； when you have read my
narrative； I expect that you will do justice to me； and to
otherseven though you think we acted indiscreetly under trying
and critical circumstances。
B。 W。
II。
WINTERFIELD MAKES EXTRACTS。
First Extract。
April 11th； 1869。Mrs。 Eyrecourt and her daughter have left
Beaupark to…day for London。 Have I really made any impression on
the heart of the beautiful Stella？ In my miserable
positionignorant whether I am free or notI have shrunk from
formally acknowledging that I love her。
12th。I am becoming superstitious！ In the Obituary of to…day's
_Times_ the death is recorded of that unhappy woman whom I was
mad enough to marry。 After hearing nothing of her for seven
yearsI am free！ Surely this is a good omen？ Shall I follow the
Eyrecourts to London； and declare myself？ I have not confidence
enough in my own power of attraction to run the risk。 Better to
write first； in strictest confidence； to Mrs。 Eyrecourt。
14th。An enchanting answer from my angel's mother； written in
great haste。 They are on the point of leaving for Paris。 Stella
is restless and dissatisfied； she wants change of scene； and Mrs。
Eyrecourt adds； in so many words〃It is you who have upset her；
why did you not speak while we were at Beaupark？〃 I am to hear
again from Paris。 Good old Father Newbliss said all along that
she was fond of me； and wondered； like Mrs。 Eyrecourt； why I
failed to declare myself。 How could I tell them of the hideous
fetters which bound me in tho se days？
18th； Paris。She has accepted me！ Words are useless to express
my happiness。
19th。A letter from my lawyer； full of professional subtleties
and delays。 I have no patience to enumerate them。 We move to
Belgium to…morrow。 Not on our way back to EnglandStella is so
little desirous of leaving the Continent that we are likely to be
married abroad。