The Black Robe

up. In one part of the gallery, Lady Loring and Stella were whispering toget

ll like Mr. Penrose?

l at present. He seems to

Romayne. Have you again hear

t the dread of hearing it again has oppressed me all this morning. To tell

it do

- thu

friend, that a greater cha

g! I can go through my ordeal

then," said Lord Loring. "What

uld have painted a noble portrait of her. But there is something in

on't like?" Lord

assment in the manner of a well-bred woman. And yet she seemed to be embarrass

y man but you, Romayne, I s

ayne asked

man who impresses a woman unfavorably at first sight? For once in your life, indulge in the amiable

f looking at him. A younger woman, or a woman of weaker character, would have looked away again. Stella's noble head drooped; her eyes sa

nd spoke to Lord Lor

Miss Eyrecourt f

nd. I think, Romayne, you would feel inte

ord Loring's prophetic remark. "Let us

et him. Father Benwell saw his opportunity of h

s pleasant, cheerful way. "Lord Loring tells me you have sent to the

a room at your disposal. I used to enjoy the solitude of my house in the country. My tastes have lately changed - there are times now when I want to see the life

o you, Mr. Romayne, as well as his pen. Penrose has studied in the Vatican Library. If your reading leads you th

o the projected work on "The Origin

pts," Romayne said. "Copies of some of them may perhaps be in the British M

at your service

shall have looked over my notes, and shall be ready for

anced to take his leave

assumed that there was nothing further to be gained by remaining in the gallery. Moreover, the interval before Penrose called at the hotel might be usefully filled up by some wise words of advice, relating to the religious uses to which he might turn

or Stella, with a woman's enthusiastic devotion to the interests of true love; and she had firmly resolved that a matter so trifling as the cultivati

he said, when he held out h

y Loring, I nev

ty; only ourselves. Tomorrow, and next day,

n my state of health, I am unwilling to make

aled to Stella. "Mr. Romayne persists, my dear, in put

to have any inf

herself conscious how openly all that was noble and true in her nature, all that was most deeply and sensitively felt in her aspirations, spoke at th

te your influence, S

Mr. Romayne half an hour since," she said. "I am not vain enough to suppos

own idea of himself, in speaking of her to

ing one another," he said. "We may arrive at a better u

woman to let a fair opportunity escape her. "We will s

e shook hands with Stella, a

lly than the conspiracy to convert him. And Father Benwell, car

they mark the march of time. The day passed, the evening came - and, w

it happened - in an extract from his r

at my lodgings, and tell me how he had prospered at the

face told me that something serious had happened. I asked direct

?' he said. 'No words can tell how sincerely I feel for Mr. Romayne. I

t had happened. Penrose betrayed a marke

that I can honorably tell you, shall be told. Add one more to your many kindnesses - don't

ly answering this strange appeal. 'Let me hear what

nge property, to assure ourselves of the promise of success which the peculiar character of the present owner held out to us.

put both his hands to his ears as if he heard something dreadful, and was trying to deafen himself to it. I ran to the door to call for help. He stopped me; he spoke in faint, gasping tones, forbidding me to call any one in to witness what he suffered. It was not the first time, he said; it would soon be over. If I had not courage to remain with him I could go, and return when he was himself again. I so pitied him that I found the courage to remain. When it was over he took me by the hand, and thanked me.

s confession. The confession is of no consequence to us. You know how the moral force of Arthur's

idea of the right method of dealing with this obstacle when it shows itself more plainly. For the present, I need o

Benwell reverted to the consideration of his propos

rom Lord Loring or his wife. If he assumed, at his age, to take a strong interest in a Protestant young lady, who had notor

r. As an old servant, possessing Lady Loring's confidence, she might prove a source of information on the subject of Lady Lor

hought Father Benwell, "