The Black Robe

llude, I am almost as great a stranger in this house, Arthur, as yourself. When the object which we now have in view was first taken seriously into co

establishing myself on terms of intimacy in this house. By way of making room for me, the spiritual director of Lord and Lady Loring was removed to a cure of souls in Ireland. And here I am in his p

"It is a great sacrifice to make, Fat

ung lady has recently arrived here on a visit. She is a Protestant, with all the prejudices incident to that way of thinking - avoids me so carefully, poor soul, that I have never seen her yet. These rebuffs are wholesome reminders of his fa

ther. But I am sometimes conscio

tacle! Not living in the house, I was obliged to find an excuse for being constantly on the spot, ready to take advantage of his lordship's leisure moments for conversation. I sat down in this room, and I said to myself, 'Before I get up again, I mean to brush these impertinent obstacles out of my way!' The state of the books suggested the idea of which I was in search. Before I left the house, I was charged with th

e of humor. Instead of being amused, he a

I to be Mr. Romayne's

red himself out an

tain knowledge, his estate is not entailed. He has devoted himself for years past to books, and is collecting materials for a work of immense research, on the Origin of Religions. Some great sorrow or remorse - Lord Loring did not mention what it was - has told seriously on his nervous system, alr

erested. "Have you been

es. I know the value of that productive part of the estate which stretches southward, away from the barren region round the house. Let us return for a moment to Romayne, and to your position as his future companion. He has had his

as that?" Penr

inate to listen to them. There was but one concession that they could gain from him - he consented to spare himself, in some small degree, by employing an amanuensis. It was left to Lord Loring to find the man. I was consulted by his lordship; I was even invited to u

fear I am unworthy of the conf

what

red with unfe

change his religious faith. There is something so serious in the responsibility which you lay on me, that I shall sink under the burden unless my whole heart is in the work. If I feel attracted toward Mr. Romayne when I first see him; if he wins upon me, little by little, until I l

dled his young friend's rising emotion with the dexterity

suggest that you are innocently raising difficulties, where no difficulties exist. I have already mentioned as one of the necessities of the case that you and Romayne should be friends.

that led to the picture gallery was o

might, perhaps, be found in the room. A shade of annoyance showed itse

looking at Penrose. "Is this the ge

e, my lord. I ventured to suggest that he should call her

"Mr. Penrose could not have come here at a more appropriate time. As it happe

pened it - glanced round the hall, and at the stairs - and returned again, with the passing expression of annoyance vi

d with a smile to the books scattered about him. "Wi

to his correspondence with Rome. It had become a habit of his life to be suspicious of any circumstances occurring within his range of observation, for which he was unable to account. He mi

tella and herself had encouraged her husband to try his proposed experiment

me here to-day?" he

ut a picture. Are we to prepare Stella to see him? or wo

Stella by surprise. Let me only tell her that Romayne is the original of her portrait, a

" she said, "it will look as if we had arranged the thing between us. I can't bear even to think of that. Let me look in by myself, as if it was by accident." Consenting to this arrangement, Lady Loring had proceeded alone to the gallery, when Romayne's visit was announced. The minutes passed, and Stella did not appear. It was quite possible that she might shrink fr

dispatch-box, standing on a small table in the recess. Placed in this position, he was invisible to any person entering the room by th

ear. Other men might have walked out of the recess and shown themselves. Father

gallery - and paused, as if she was afraid to open it. Father Benwell heard her sigh to herself softly, "Oh, how shall I meet him?" She turned aside to the looking-glass over the fire-place. The reflection

you to see; and a friend whom I want to present to y

omary deliberation of movement, he snatched a sheet of paper out of the case, and frowning heavily, wrote these lines on it:-"Since my letter was sealed, I have made a discovery which must be communicated without the loss of a post. I g

the letter preceding it. "Now for the woman!" he said