the black robe-第20节
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was graciously invited to rest； after his labors； in the
housekeeper's room。 Having additionally conciliated him by means
of a glass of rare liqueur； Miss Notman； still feeling her
grievance as acutely as ever； ventured to inquire； in the first
place； if the gentlefolks upstairs had enjoyed their dinner。 So
far the report was； on the whole； favorable。 But the conversation
was described as occasionally flagging。 The burden of the talk
had been mainly borne by my lord and my lady； Mr。 Romayne and
Miss Eyrecourt contributing but little to the social enjoyment of
the evening。 Receiving this information without much appearance
of interest； the housekeeper put another question； to which；
judging by her manner； she attached a certain importance。 She
wished to know if the oyster…omelet （accompanying the cheese） had
been received as a welcome dish； and treated with a just
recognition of its merits。 The answer to this was decidedly in
the negative。 Mr。 Romayne and Miss Eyrecourt had declined to
taste it。 My lord had tried it； and had left it on his plate。 My
lady alone had really eaten her share of the misplaced dish。
Having stated this apparently trivial circumstance； the head
servant was surprised by the effect which it produced on the
housekeeper。 She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes；
with an appearance of unutterable enjoyment。 That night there was
one supremely happy woman in London。 And her name was Miss
Notman。
Ascending from the housekeeper's room to the drawing…room； it is
to be further reported that music was tried； as a means of
getting through the time； in the absence of general conversation。
Lady Loring sat down at the piano； and played as admirably as
usual。 At the other end of the room Romayne and Stella were
together； listening to the music。 Lord Loring； walking backward
and forward； with a restlessness which was far from being
characteristic of him in his after…dinner hours； was stopped when
he reached the neighborhood of the piano by a private signal from
his wife。
〃What are you walking about for？〃 Lady Loring asked in a whisper；
without interrupting her musical performance。
〃I'm not quite easy； my dear。〃
〃Turn over the music。 Indigestion？〃
〃Good heavens； Adelaide； what a question！〃
〃Well； what is it； then？〃
Lord Loring looked toward Stella and her companion。 〃They don't
seem to get on together as well as I had hoped；〃 he said。
〃I should think notwhen you are walking about and disturbing
them！ Sit down there behind me。〃
〃What am I to do？〃
〃Am I not playing？ Listen to me。〃
〃My dear； I don't understand modern German music。〃
〃Then read the evening paper。〃
The evening paper had its attractions。 Lord Loring took his
wife's advice。
Left entirely by themselves； at the other end of the room；
Romayne and Stella justified Lady Loring's belief in the result
of reducing her husband to a state of repose。 Stella ventured to
speak first； in a discreet undertone。
〃Do you pass most of your evenings alone； Mr。 Romayne？〃
〃Not quite alone。 I have the company of my books。〃
〃Are your books the companions that you like best？〃
〃I have been true to those companions； Miss Eyrecourt； for many
years。 If the doctors are to be believed； my b ooks have not
treated me very well in return。 They have broken down my health；
and have made me； I am afraid； a very unsocial man。〃 He seemed
about to say more； and suddenly checked the impulse。 〃Why am I
talking of myself？〃 he resumed with a smile。 〃I never do it at
other times。 Is this another result of your influence over me？〃
He put the question with an assumed gayety。 Stella made no
effort； on her side； to answer him in the same tone。
〃I almost wish I really had some influence over you；〃 she said；
gravely and sadly。
〃Why？〃
〃I should try to induce you to shut up your books； and choose
some living companion who might restore you to your happier
self。〃
〃It is already done；〃 said Romayne； 〃I have a new companion in
Mr。 Penrose。〃
〃Penrose？〃 she repeated。 〃He is the friendis he notof the
priest here； whom they call Father Benwell？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I don't like Father Benwell。〃
〃Is that a reason for disliking Mr。 Penrose？〃
〃Yes；〃 she said； boldly； 〃because he is Father Benwell's friend。〃
〃Indeed； you are mistaken； Miss Eyrecourt。 Mr。 Penrose only
entered yesterday on his duties as my secretary； and I have
already had reason to think highly of him。 Many men； after _that_
experience of me；〃 he added； speaking more to himself than to
her； 〃might have asked me to find another secretary。〃
Stella heard those last words； and looked at him in astonishment。
〃Were you angry with Mr。 Penrose？〃 she asked innocently。 〃Is it
possible that _you_ could speak harshly to any person in your
employment？〃
Romayne smiled。 〃It was not what I said；〃 he answered。 〃I am
subject to attacksto sudden attacks of illness。 I am sorry I
alarmed Mr。 Penrose by letting him see me under those
circumstances。〃
She looked at him； hesitated； and looked away again。 〃Would you
be angry with me if I confessed something？〃 she said timidly。
〃It is impossible I can be angry with you！〃
〃Mr。 Romayne； I think I have seen what your secretary saw。 I know
how you suffer； and how patiently you bear it。〃
〃You！〃 he exclaimed。
〃I saw you with your friend； when you came on board the steamboat
at Boulogne。 Oh； no； you never noticed me！ You never knew how I
pitied you。 And afterward； when you moved away by yourself； and
stood by the place in which the engines workyou are sure you
won't think the worse of me； if I tell it？〃
〃No！ no！〃
〃Your face frightened meI can't describe itI went to your
friend and took it on myself to say that you wanted him。 It was
an impulseI meant well。〃
〃I am sure you meant well。〃 As he spoke； his face darkened a
little； betraying a momentary feeling of distrust。 Had she put
indiscreet questions to his traveling companion； and had the
Major； under the persuasive influence of her beauty； been weak
enough to answer them？ 〃Did you speak to my friend？〃 he asked。
〃Only when I told him that he had better go to you。 And I think I
said afterward I was afraid you were very ill。 We were in the
confusion of arriving at Folkestoneand； even if I had thought
it right to say more； there was no opportunity。〃
Romayne felt ashamed of the suspicion by which he had wronged
her。 〃You have a generous nature；〃 he said earnestly。 〃Among the
few people whom I know； how many would feel the interest in me
that you felt？〃
〃Don't say that； Mr。 Romayne！ You could have had no kinder friend
than the gentleman who took care of you on your journey。 Is he
with you now in London？〃
〃No。〃
〃I am sorry to hear it。 You ought to have some devoted friend
always near you。〃
She spoke very earnestly。 Romayne shrank； with a strange shyness；
from letting her see how her sympathy affected him。 He answered
lightly。 〃You go almost as far as my good friend there reading
the newspaper；〃 he said。 〃Lord Loring doesn't scruple to tell me
that I ought to marry。 I know he speaks with a sincere interest
in my welfare。 He little thinks how he distresses me。〃
〃Why should he distress you？〃
〃He reminds melive as long as I maythat I must live alone。
Can I ask a woman to share such a dreary life as mine？ It would
be selfish； it would be cruel； I should deservedly pay the
penalty of allowing my wife to sacrifice herself。 The time would
come when she would repent having married me。〃
Stella rose。 Her eyes rested on him with a look of gentle
remonstrance。 〃I think you hardly do women justice；〃 she said
softly。 〃Perhaps some day a woman may induce you to change your
opinion。〃 She crossed the room to the piano。 〃You must be tired
of playing； Adelaide；〃 she said； putting her hand caressingly on
Lady Loring's shoulder。
〃Will you sing； Stella？〃
She sighed； and turned away。 〃Not to…night；〃 she answered。
Romayne took his leave rather hurriedly。 He seemed to be out of
spirits and eager to get away。 Lord Lorin
