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My mistress accepts the gift； and has been to the theater at
Paris； with Monsieur and Madame Villeray more than once already。
To conclude； sir； if I might venture to advise you； I should
recommend trying the effect on Mrs。 R。 of absence and silence。〃
A most sensibly written letter。 I shall certainly take Matilda's
advice。 My name is never mentioned by Stellaand not a day has
passed without my thinking of her！
Well； I suppose a man can harden his heart if he likes。 Let me
harden _my_ heart； and forget her。
The crew shall have three days ashore at Naples； and then we sail
for Alexandria。 In that port the yacht will wait my return。 I
have not yet visited the cataracts of the Nile； I have not yet
seen the magnificent mouse…colored women of Nubia。 A tent in the
desert； and a dusky daughter of Nature to keep house for
methere is a new life for a man who is weary of the vapid
civilization of Europe！ I shall begin by letting my beard grow。
Fifth Extract。
Civita Vecchia； February 28； 1863。Back again on the coast of
Italyafter an absence； at sea and ashore； of nine months！
What have my travels done for me？ They have made me browner and
thinner； they have given me a more patient mind； and a taste for
mild tobacco。 Have they helped me to forget Stella？ Not the least
in the worldI am more eager than ever to see her again。 When I
look back at my diary I am really ashamed of my own fretfulness
and impatience。 What miserable vanity on my part to expect her to
think of me； when she was absorbed in the first cares and joys of
maternity； especially sacred to her； poor soul； as the one
consolation of her melancholy life！ I withdraw all that I wrote
about herand from the bottom of my heart I forgive the baby。
Rome； March 1。I have found my letters waiting for me at the
office of my banker。
The latest news from St。 Germain is all that I could wish。 In
acknowledging the receipt of my last letter from Cairo （I broke
my rash vow of silence when we got into port； after leaving
Naples） Stella sends me the long desired invitation。 〃Pray take
care to return to us； dear Bernard； before the first anniversary
of my boy's birthday； on the twenty…seventh of March。〃 After
those words she need feel no apprehension of my being late at my
appointment。 Travelerthe dog has well merited his name by this
timewill have to bid good…by to the yacht （which he loves）； and
journey homeward by the railway （which he hates）。 No more risk of
storms and delays for me。 Good…by to the sea for one while。
I have sent the news of my safe return from the East； by
telegraph。 But I must not be in too great a hurry to leave Rome；
or I shall commit a serious errorI shall disappoint Stella's
mother。
Mrs。 Eyrecourt writes to me earnestly； requesting； if I return by
way of Italy； that I will get her some information about Romayne。
She is eager to know whether they have made him a priest yet。 I
am also to discover； if I can； what are his prospectswhether he
is as miserable as he deserves to bewhether he has been
disappointed in his expectations； and is likely to be brought
back to his senses in that wayand； above all； whether Father
Benwell is still at Rome with him。 My idea is that Mrs。 Eyrecourt
has not given up her design of making Romayne acquainted with the
birth of his son。
The right person to apply to for information is evidently my
banker。 He has been a resident in Rome for twenty yearsbut he
is too busy a man to be approached； by an idler like myself； in
business hours。 I have asked him to dine with me to…morrow。
March 2。My guest has just left me。 I am afraid Mrs。 Eyrecourt
will be sadly disappointed when she hears what I have to tell her
The moment I mentioned Romayne's name； the banker looked at me
with an expression of surprise。 〃'The man most talked about in
Rome；〃 he said； 〃I wonder you have not heard of him already。〃
〃Is he a priest？〃
〃Certainly！ And； what is more； the ordinary preparations for the
priesthood were expressly shortened by high authority on his
account。 The Pope takes the greatest interest in him； and as for
the people； the Italians have already nicknamed him 'the young
cardinal。' Don't suppose； as some of our countrymen do； that he
is indebted to his wealth for the high position which he has
already attained。 His wealth is only one of the minor influences
in his favor。 The truth is； he unites in himself two opposite
qualities； both of the greatest value to the Church； which are
very rarely found combined in the same man。 He has already made a
popular reputation here； as a most eloquent and convincing
preacher〃
〃A preacher！〃 I exclaimed。 〃And a popular reputation！ How do the
Italians understand him？〃
The banker looked puzzled。
〃Why shouldn't they understand a man who addresses them in their
own language？〃 he said。 〃Romayne could speak Italian when he came
hereand since that time he has learned by constant practice to
think in Italian。 While our Roman season lasts； he preaches
alternately in Italian and in English。 But I was speaking of the
two opposite accomplishments which this remarkable man possesses。
Out of the pulpit； he is capable of applying his mind
successfully to the polit ical necessities of the Church。 As I am
told； his intellect has had severe practical training； by means
of historical studies； in the past years of his life。 Anyhow； in
one of the diplomatic difficulties here between the Church and
the State； he wrote a memorial on the subject； which the
Cardinal…Secretary declared to be a model of ability in applying
the experience of the past to the need of the present time。 If he
doesn't wear himself out； his Italian nickname may prove
prophetically true。 We may live to see the new convert； Cardinal
Romayne。〃
〃Are you acquainted with him yourself？〃 I asked。
〃No Englishman is acquainted with him；〃 the banker answered。
〃There is a report of some romantic event in his life which has
led to his leaving England； and which makes him recoil from
intercourse with his own nation。 Whether this is true or false；
it is certain that the English in Rome find him unapproachable。 I
have even heard that he refuses to receive letters from England。
If you wish to see him； you must do what I have doneyou must go
to church and look at him in the pulpit。 He preaches in
EnglishI think for the last time this seasonon Thursday
evening next。 Shall I call here and take you to