the black robe-第14节
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FATHER BENWELL HITS。
ART has its trials as well as its triumphs。 It is powerless to
assert itself against the sordid interests of everyday life。 The
greatest book ever written； the finest picture ever painted；
appeals in vain to minds preoccupied by selfish and secret cares。
On entering Lord Loring's gallery； Father Benwell found but one
person who was not looking at the pictures under false pretenses。
Innocent of all suspicion of the conflicting interests whose
struggle now centered in himself； Romayne was carefully studying
the picture which had been made the pretext for inviting him to
the house。 He had bowed to Stella； with a tranquil admiration of
her beauty； he had shaken hands with Penrose； and had said some
kind words to his future secretaryand then he had turned to the
picture； as if Stella and Penrose had ceased from that moment to
occupy his mind。
〃In your place；〃 he said quietly to Lord Loring； 〃I should not
buy this work。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃It seems to me to have the serious defect of the modern English
school of painting。 A total want of thought in the rendering of
the subject； disguised under dexterous technical tricks of the
brush。 When you have seen one of that man's pictures； you have
seen all。 He manufactureshe doesn't paint。〃
Father Benwell came in while Romayne was speaking。 He went
through the ceremonies of introduction to the master of Vange
Abbey with perfect politeness； but a little absently。 His mind
was bent on putting his suspicion of Stella to the test of
confirmation。 Not waiting to be presented； he turned to her with
the air of fatherly interest and chastened admiration which he
well knew how to assume in his intercourse with women。
〃May I ask if you agree with Mr。 Romayne's estimate of the
picture？〃 he said； in his gentlest tones。
She had heard of him； and of his position in the house。 It was
quite needless for Lady Loring to whisper to her； 〃Father
Benwell； my
dear！〃 Her antipathy identified him as readily as her sympathy
might have identified a man who had produced a favorable
impression on her。 〃I have no pretension to be a critic；〃 she
answered； with frigid politeness。 〃I only know what I personally
like or dislike。〃
The reply exactly answered Father Benwell's purpose。 It diverted
Romayne's attention from the picture to Stella。 The priest had
secured his opportunity of reading their faces while they were
looking at each other。
〃I think you have just stated the true motive for all criticism；〃
Romayne said to Stella。 〃Whether we only express our opinions of
pictures or books in the course of conversation or whether we
assert them at full length； with all the authority of print； we
are really speaking； in either case； of what personally pleases
or repels us。 My poor opinion of that picture means that it says
nothing to Me。 Does it say anything to You？〃
He smiled gently as he put the question to her； but there was no
betrayal of emotion in his eyes or in his voice。 Relieved of
anxiety； so far as Romayne was concerned； Father Benwell looked
at Stella。
Steadily as she controlled herself； the confession of her heart's
secret found its way into her face。 The coldly composed
expression which had confronted the priest when she spoke to him；
melted away softly under the influence of Romayne's voice and
Romayne's look。 Without any positive change of color； her
delicate skin glowed faintly； as if it felt some animating inner
warmth。 Her eyes and lips brightened with a new vitality； her
frail elegant figure seemed insensibly to strengthen and expand；
like the leaf of a flower under a favoring sunny air。 When she
answered Romayne （agreeing with him； it is needless to say）；
there was a tender persuasiveness in her tones； shyly inviting
him still to speak to her and still to look at her； which would
in itself have told Father Benwell the truth； even if he had not
been in a position to see her face。 Confirmed in his doubts of
her； he looked； with concealed suspicion； at Lady Loring next。
Sympathy with Stella was undisguisedly expressed to him in the
honest blue eyes of Stella's faithful friend。
The discussion on the subject of the unfortunate picture was
resumed by Lord Loring； who thought the opinions of Romayne and
Stella needlessly severe。 Lady Loring； as usual； agreed with her
husband。 While the general attention was occupied in this way；
Father Benwell said a word to Penrosethus far； a silent
listener to the discourse on Art。
〃Have you seen the famous portrait of the first Lady Loring； by
Gainsborough？〃 he asked。 Without waiting for a reply； he took
Penrose by the arm； and led him away to the picturewhich had
the additional merit； under present circumstances； of hanging at
the other end of the gallery。
〃How do you like Romayne？〃 Father Benwell put the question in low
peremptory tones； evidently impatient for a reply。
〃He interests me already；〃 said Penrose。 〃He looks so ill and so
sad； and he spoke to me so kindly〃
〃In short；〃 Father Benwell interposed； 〃Romayne has produced a
favorable impression on you。 Let us get on to the next thing。 You
must produce a favorable impression on Romayne。〃
Penrose sighed。 〃With the best will to make myself agreeable to
people whom I like；〃 he said； 〃I don't always succeed。 They used
to tell me at Oxford that I was shyand I am afraid that is
against me。 I wish I possessed some of your social advantages；
Father！〃
〃Leave it to me； son！ Are they still talking about the picture？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I have something more to say to you。 Have you noticed the young
lady？〃
〃I thought her beautifulbut she looks a little cold。〃
Father Benwell smiled。 〃When you are as old as I am；〃 he said；
〃you will not believe in appearances where women are concerned。
Do you know what I think of her？ Beautiful； if you likeand
dangerous as well。〃
〃Dangerous！ In what way？〃
〃This is for your private ear； Arthur。 She is in love with
Romayne。 Wait a minute！ And Lady Loringunless I am entirely
mistaken in what I observedknows it and favors it。 The
beautiful Stella may be the destruction of all our hopes； unless
we keep Romayne out of her way。〃
These words were whispered with an earnestness and agitation
which surprised Penrose。 His superior's equanimity was not easily
overthrown。 〃Are you sure； Father； of what you say？〃 he asked。
〃I am quite sureor I should not have spoken。〃
〃Do you think Mr。 Romayne returns the feeling？〃
〃Not yet； luckily。 You must use your first friendly influence
over himwhat is her name？ Her surname； I mean。〃
〃Eyrecourt。 Miss Stella Eyrecourt。〃
〃Very well。 You must use your influence （when you are quite sure
that it _is_ an influence） to keep Mr。 Romayne away from Miss
Eyrecourt。〃
Penrose looked embarrassed。 〃I am afraid I should hardly know how
to do that；〃 he said 〃But I should naturally； as his assistant；
encourage him to keep to his studies。〃
Whatever Arthur's superior might privately think of Arthur's
reply； he received it with outward indulgence。 〃That will come to
the same thing；〃 he said。 〃Besides； when I get the information I
wantthis is strictly between ourselvesI may be of some use in
placing obstacles in the lady's way。〃
Penrose started。 〃Information！〃 he repeated。 〃What information？〃
〃Tell me something before I answer you；〃 said Father Benwell。
〃How old do you take Miss Eyrecourt to be？〃
〃I am not a good judge in such matters。 Between twenty and
twenty…five； perhaps？〃
〃We will take her age at that estimate； Arthur。 In former years；
I have had opportunities of studying women's characters in the
confessional。 Can you guess what my experience tells me of Miss
Eyrecourt？〃
〃No； indeed！〃
〃A lady is not in love for the first time when she is between
twenty and twenty…five years oldthat is my experience；〃 said
Father Benwell。 〃If I can find a person capable of informing me；
I may make some valuable discoveries in the earlier history of
Miss Eyrecourt's life。 No more； now。 We had better return to our
friends。〃
CHAPTER V。
FATHER BENWELL MISSES。
THE group before th
