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leave it in charge of my bankers； on my way to the Portsmouth
train。 Shall I ever w ant a new diary？ Superstitious people might
associate this coming to the end of the book with coming to an
end of another kind。 I have no imagination； and I take my leap in
the dark hopefullywith Byron's glorious lines in my mind：
〃Here's a sigh to those who love me；
And a smile to those that bate；
And whatever sky's above met
Here's heart for every fated
（An inclosure is inserted here； marking a lapse of seven months；
before the entries in the diary are resumed。 It consists of two
telegrams； dispatched respectively on the 1st and 2d of May；
1864。）
1。 〃From Bernard Winterfield； Portsmouth； England。 To Mrs。
Romayne care of M。 Villeray； St。 Germain； near Paris。 Penrose
is safe on board my yacht。 His unfortunate companion has died of
exhaustion； and he is himself in a feeble state of health。 I at
once take him with me to London for medical advice。 We are eager
for news of you。 Telegraph to Derwent's Hotel。〃
2。 〃From Mrs。 Eyrecourt； St。 Germain。 To Bernard Winterfield；
Derwent's Hotel； London。 Your telegram received with joy； and
sent on to Stella in Paris。 All well。 But strange events have
happened。 If you cannot come here at once； go to Lord Loring。 He
will tell you everything。〃
Tenth Extract。
London； 2d May； 1864。Mrs。 Eyrecourt's telegram reached me just
after Doctor Wybrow had paid his first professional visit to
Penrose； at the hotel。 I had hardly time to feel relieved by the
opinion of the case which he expressed； before my mind was upset
by Mrs。 Eyrecourt。 Leaving Penrose under the charge of our
excellent landlady； I hurried away to Lord Loring。
It was still early in the day： his lordship was at home。 He
maddened me with impatience by apologizing at full length for
〃the inexcusable manner in which he had misinterpreted my conduct
on the deplorable occasion of the marriage ceremony at Brussels。〃
I stopped his flow of words （very earnestly spoken； it is only
right to add）； and entreated him to tell me； in the first place；
what Stella was doing in Paris。
〃Stella is with her husband；〃 Lord Loring replied。
My head turned giddy； my heart beat furiously。 Lord Loring looked
at meran to the luncheon table in the next roomand returned
with a glass of wine。 I really don't know whether I drank the
wine or not。 I know I stammered out another inquiry in one word。
〃Reconciled？〃 I said。
〃Yes； Mr。 Winterfieldreconciled； before he dies。〃
We were both silent for a while。
What was he thinking of？ I don't know。 What was I thinking of？ I
daren't write it down。
Lord Loring resumed by expressing some anxiety on the subject of
my health。 I made the best excuse for myself that I could； and
told him of the rescue of Penrose。 He had heard of my object in
leaving England； and heartily congratulated me。 〃This will be
welcome news indeed；〃 he said； 〃to Father Benwell。〃
Even the name of Father Benwell now excites my distrust。 〃Is _he_
in Paris too？〃 I inquired。
〃He left Paris last night；〃 Lord Loring answered； 〃and he is now
in London； on important business （as I understand） connected with
Romayne's affairs。〃
I instantly thought of the boy。
〃Is Romayne in possession of his faculties？〃 I asked。
〃In complete possession。〃
〃While justice is in his power； has he done justice to his son？〃
Lord Loring looked a little confused。 〃I have not heard；〃 was all
he said in reply。
I was far from satisfied。 〃You are one of Romayne's oldest
friends；〃 I persisted。 〃Have you not seen him yourself？〃
〃I have seen him more than once。 But he has never referred to his
affairs。〃 Having said this he hastily changed the subject。 〃Is
there any other information that I can give you？〃 he suggested。
I had still to learn under what circumstances Romayne had left
Italy for France； and how the event of his illness in Paris had
been communicated to his wife。 Lord Loring had only to draw on
his own recollections to enlighten me。
〃Lady Loring and I passed the last winter in Rome；〃 he said。
〃And； there； we saw Romayne。 You look surprised。 Perhaps you are
aware that we had offended him； by advice which we thought it our
duty to offer to Stella before her marriage？〃
I was certainly thinking of what Stella had said of the Lorings
on the memorable day when she visited me at the hotel。
〃Romayne would probably have refused to receive us；〃 Lord Loring
resumed； 〃but for the gratifying circumstance of my having been
admitted to an interview with the Pope。 The Holy Father spoke of
him with the most condescending kindness； and； hearing that I had
not yet seen him； gave instructions； commanding Romayne to
present himself。 Under these circumstances it was impossible for
him to refuse to receive Lady Loring and myself on a later
occasion。 I cannot tell you how distressed we were at the sad
change for the worse in his personal appearance。 The Italian
physician； whom he occasionally consulted； told me that there was
a weakness in the action of his heart； produced； in the first
instance； by excessive study and the excitement of preaching； and
aggravated by the further drain on his strength due to
insufficient nourishment。 He would eat and drink just enough to
keep him alive； and no more； and he persistently refused to try
the good influence of rest and change of scene。 My wife； at a
later interview with him； when they were alone； induced him to
throw aside the reserve which he had maintained with me； and
discovered another cause for the deterioration in his health。 I
don't refer to the return of a nervous misery； from which he has
suffered at intervals for years past； I speak of the effect
produced on his mind by the announcementmade no doubt with best
intentions by Doctor Wybrowof the birth of his child。 This
disclosure （he was entirely ignorant of his wife's situation when
he left her） appears to have affected him far more seriously than
the English doctor supposed。 Lady Loring was so shocked at what
he said to her on the subject； that she has only repeated it to
me with a certain reserve。 'If I could believe I did wrong；' he
said； 'in dedicating myself to the service of the Church； after
the overthrow of my domestic happiness； I should also believe