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〃Did the Rector understand it？〃 Stella asked。
〃Yes。 Like many other Englishmen in his position； although he was
not ready at speaking French； he could read the language； and
could fairly well understand it； when it was spoken。 After my
wife's death； he kindly placed the boy； for a few days； under the
care of his housekeeper。 Her early life had been passed in the
island of Martinique； and she was able to communicate with the
friendless foreigner in his own language。 When he disappeared；
she was the only person who could throw any light on his motive
for stealing the papers。 On the day when he entered the house；
she caught him peeping through the keyhole of the study door。 He
must have seen where the confession was placed； and the color of
the old…fashioned blue paper； on which it was written； would help
him to identify it。 The next morning； during the Rector's
absence； he brought the manuscript to the housekeeper； and asked
her to translate it into French； so that he might know how much
money was left to him in 〃the will。〃 She severely reproved him；
made him replace the paper in the desk from which he had taken
it； and threatened to tell the Rector if his misconduct was
repeated。 He promised amendment； and the good…natured woman
believed him。 On that evening the papers were sealed； and locked
up。 In the morning the lock was found broken； and the papers and
the boy were both missing together。〃
〃Do you think he showed the confession to any other person？〃
Stella asked。 〃I happen to know that he concealed it from his
mother。〃
〃After the housekeeper's reproof；〃 I replied； 〃he would be
cunning enough； in my opinion； not to run the risk of showing it
to strangers。 It is far more likely that he thought he might
learn English enough to read it himself。〃
There the subject dropped。 We were silent for a while。 She was
thinking； and I was looking at her。 On a sudden； she raised her
head。 Her eyes rested on me gravely。
〃It is very strange！〃 she said
〃What is strange？〃
〃I have been thinking of the Lorings。 They encouraged me to doubt
you。 They advised me to be silent about what happened at
Brussels。 And they too are concerned in my husband's desertion of
me。 He first met Father Benwell at their house。〃 Her head drooped
again； her next words were murmured to herself。 〃I am still a
young woman；〃 she said。 〃Oh； God； what is my future to be？〃
This morbid way of thinking distressed me。 I reminded her that
she had dear and devoted friends。
〃Not one；〃 she answered； 〃but you。〃
〃Have you not seen Lady Loring？〃 I asked。
〃She and her husband have written most kindly； inviting me to
make their house my home。 I have no right to blame themthey
meant well。 But after what has happened； I can't go back to
them。〃
〃I am sorry to hear it；〃 I said。
〃Are you thinking of the Lorings？〃 she asked。
〃I don't even know the Lorings。 I can think of nobody but you。〃
I was still looking at herand I am afraid my eyes said more
than my words。 If she had doubted it before； she must have now
known that I was as fond of her as ever。 She looked distressed
rather than confused。 I made an awkward attempt to set myself
right。
〃Surely your brother may speak plainly；〃 I pleaded。
She agreed to this。 But nevertheless she rose to gowith a
friendly word； intended （as I hoped） to show me that I had got my
pardon for that time。 〃Will you come and see us to…morrow？〃 she
said。 〃Can you forgive my mother as generously as you have
forgiven me？ I will take care； Bernard； that she does you justice
at last。〃
She held out her hand to take leave。 How could I reply？ If I had
been a resolute man； I might have remembered that it would be
best for me not to see too much of her。 But I am a poor weak
creatureI accepted her invitation for the next day。
January 30。I have just returned from my visit。
My thoughts are in a state of indescribable conflict and
confusionand her mother is the cause of it。 I wish I had not
gone to the house。 Am I a bad man； I wonder？ and have I only
found it out now？
Mrs。 Eyrecourt was alone in the drawing…room when I went in。
Judging by the easy manner in which she got up to receive me； the
misfortune that has befallen her daughter seemed to have produced
no sobering change in this frivolous woman。
〃My dear Winterfield；〃 she began； 〃I have behaved infamously。 I
won't say that appearances were against you at BrusselsI will
only say I ought not to have trusted to appearances。 You are the
injured person； please forgive me。 Shall we go on with the
subject？ or shall we shake hands； and say no more about it？〃
I shook hands； of course。 Mrs。 Eyrecourt perceived that I was
looking for Stella。
〃Sit down；〃 she said； 〃and be good enough to put up with no more
attractive society than mine。 Unless I set things straight； my
good friend； you and my daughteroh； with the best
intentions！will drift into a false position。 You won't see
Stella to…day。 Quite impossibleand I will tell you why。 I am
the worldly old mother； I don't mind what I say。 My innocent
daughter would die before she would confess what I am going to
tell you。 Can I offer you anything？ Have you had lunch？〃
I begged her to continue。 She perplexedI am not sure that she
did not even alarm me。
〃Very well；〃 she proceeded。 〃You may be surprised to hear itbut
I don't mean to allow things to go on in this way。 My
contemptible son…in…law shall return to his wife。〃
This startled me； and I suppose I showed it。
〃Wait a little；〃 said Mrs。 Eyrecourt。 〃There is nothing to be
alarmed about。 Romayne is a weak fool； and Father Benwell's
greedy hands are （of course） in both his pockets。 But he has；
unless I am e ntirely mistaken； some small sense of shame； and
some little human feeling still left。 After the manner in which
he has behaved； these are the merest possibilities； you will say。
Very likely。 I have boldly appealed to those possibilities
nevertheless。 He has already gone away to Rome； and I need hardly
addFather Benwell would take good care of thathe has left us
no address。 It doesn't in the least matter。 One of the advantages
of being so much in society as I am is that I have nice
acquaintances everywhere； always ready to oblige me； provided I
don't borrow money of them。 I have written to Romayne； under
cover to one of my friends living in Rome。 Where