the black robe-第31节
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imagination saw the Archbishop and the bridesmaids； heard the
hundred guests and their dreadful speeches： his voice faltered；
in spite of himself。
Stella eagerly relieved him。 〃My darling； I don't think as my
mother does；〃 she interposed； tenderly。 〃I am sorry to say we
have very few sympathies in common。 Marriages； as I think； ought
to be celebrated as privately as possiblethe near and dear
relations present； and no one else。 If there must be rejoicings
and banquets； and hundreds of invitations； let them come when the
wedded pair are at home after the honeymoon； beginning life in
earnest。 These are odd ideas for a woman to havebut they _are_
my ideas； for all that。〃
Romayne's face brightened。 〃How few women possess your fine sense
and your delicacy of feeling！〃 he exclaimed 〃Surely your mother
must give way； when she hears we are both of one mind about our
marriage。〃
Stella knew her mother too well to share the opinion thus
expressed。 Mrs。 Eyrecourt's capacity for holding to her own
little ideas； and for persisting （where her social interests were
concerned） in trying to insinuate those ideas into the minds of
other persons； was a capacity which no resistance； short of
absolute brutality； could overcome。 She was perfectly capable of
worrying Romayne （as well as her daughter） to the utmost limits
of human endurance； in the firm conviction that she was bound to
convert all heretics； of their way of thinking； to the orthodox
faith in the matter of weddings。 Putting this view of the case
with all possible delicacy； in speaking of her mother； Stella
expressed herself plainly enough； nevertheless； to enlighten
Romayne。
He made another suggestion。 〃Can we marry privately；〃 he said；
〃and tell Mrs。 Eyrecourt of it afterward？〃
This essentially masculine solution of the difficulty was at once
rejected。 Stella was too good a daughter to suffer her mother to
be treated with even the appearance of disrespect。 〃Oh；〃 she
said； 〃think how mortified and distressed my mother would be！ She
_must_ be present at my marriage。〃
An idea of a compromise occurred to Romayne。 〃What do you say；〃
he proposed； 〃to arranging for the marriage privatelyand then
telling Mrs。 Eyrecourt only a day or two beforehand； when it
would be too late to send out invitations？ If your mother would
be disappointed〃
〃She would be angry；〃 Stella interposed。
〃Very welllay all the blame on me。 Besides； there might be two
other persons present； whom I am sure Mrs。 Eyrecourt is always
glad to meet。 You don't object to Lord and Lady Loring？〃
〃Object？ They are my dearest friends； as well as yours！〃
〃Any one else； Stella？〃
〃Any one； Lewis； whom _you_ like。
〃Then I sayno one else。 My own love； when may it be？ My lawyers
can get the settlements ready in a fortnight； or less。 Will you
say in a fortnight？〃
His arm was round her waist； his lips were touching her lovely
neck。 She was not a woman to take refuge in the commonplace
coquetries of the sex。 〃Yes；〃 she said； softly； 〃if you wish it。〃
She rose and withdrew herself from him。 〃For my sake； we must not
be here together any longer； Lewis。〃 As she spoke； the music in
the ballroom ceased。 Stella ran out of the conservatory。
The first person she encountered； on returning to the
reception…room； was Father Benwell。
CHAPTER III。
THE END OF THE BALL。
THE priest's long journey did not appear to have fatigued him。 He
was as cheerful and as polite as everand so paternally
attentive to Stella that it was quite impossible for her to pass
him with a formal bow。
〃I have come all the way from Devonshire；〃 he said。 〃The train
has been behind time as usual； and I am one of the late arrivals
in consequence。 I miss some familiar faces at this delightful
party。 Mr。 Romayne； for instance。 Perhaps he is not one of the
guests？〃
〃Oh； yes。〃
〃Has he gone away？〃
〃Not that I know of。〃
The tone of her replies warned Father Benwell to let Romayne be。
He tried another name。
〃And Arthur Penrose？〃 he inquired next。
〃I think Mr。 Penrose has left us。〃
As she answered she looked toward Lady Loring。 The hostess was
the center of a circle of ladles and gentlemen。 Before she was at
liberty； Father Benwell might take his departure。 Stella resolved
to make the attempt for herself which she had asked Lady Loring
to make for her。 It was better to try； and to be defeated； than
not to try at all。
〃I asked Mr。 Penrose what part of Devonshire you were visiting；〃
she resumed； assuming her more gracious manner。 〃I know something
myself of the north coast； especially the neighborhood of
Clovelly。〃
Not the faintest change passed over the priest's face； his
fatherly smile had never been in a better state of preservation。
〃Isn't it a charming place？〃 he said with enthusiasm。 〃Clovelly
is the most remarkable and most beautiful village in England。 I
have so enjoyed my little holidayexcursions by sea and
excursions by land… you know I feel quite young again？〃
He lifted his eyebrows playfully； and rubbed his plump hands one
over the other with such an intolerably innocent air of enjoyment
that Stella positively hated him。 She felt her capacity for
self…restraint failing her。 Under the influence of strong emotion
her thoughts lost their customary discipline。 In attempting to
fathom Father Benwell； she was conscious of having undertaken a
task which required more pliable moral qualities than she
possessed。 To her own unutterable annoyance； she was at a loss
what to say next。
At that critical moment her mother appearedeager for news of
the conquest of Romayne。
〃My dear child； how pale you look！〃 said Mrs。 Eyrecourt。 〃Come
with me directlyyou must have a glass of wine。〃
This dexterous devic e for entrapping Stella into a private
conversation failed。 〃Not now； mamma； thank you；〃 she said。
Father Benwell； on the point of discreetly withdrawing； stopped；
and looked at Mrs。 Eyrecourt with an appearance of respectful
interest。 As things were； it might not have been worth his while
to take the trouble of discovering her。 But when she actually
placed herself in his way； the chance of turning Mrs。 Eyrecourt
to useful account was not a chance to be neglected。 〃Your
mother？〃 he said to Stella。 〃I should feel honored if you will
introduce me。〃
Having （not very willingly） performed the ceremony of
presentation； Stella drew back a little。 She had no desire to
take any part in the conversation that might followbut she had
her own reasons for waiting near enough to hear it。
In the meanwhile； Mrs。 Eyrecourt turned on her inexhaustible flow
of small…talk with her customary facility。 No distinction of
persons troubled her； no convictions of any sort stood in her
way。 She was equally ready （provided she met him in good society）
to make herself agreeable to a Puritan or a Papist。
〃Delighted to make your acquaintance； Father Benwell。 Surely I
met you at that delightful evening at the Duke's？ I mean when we
welcomed the Cardinal back from Rome。 Dear old manif one may
speak so familiarly of a Prince of the Church。 How charmingly he
bears his new honors。 Such patriarchal simplicity； as every one
remarked。 Have you seen him lately？〃
The idea of the Order to which he belonged feeling any special
interest in a Cardinal （except when they made him of some use to
them） privately amused Father Benwell。 〃How wise the Church was；〃
he thought； 〃in inventing a spiritual aristocracy。 Even this fool
of a woman is impressed by it。〃 His spoken reply was true to his
assumed character as one of the inferior clergy。 〃Poor priests
like me； madam； see but little of Princes of the Church in the
houses of Dukes。〃 Saying this with the most becoming humility； he
turned the talk in a more productive direction； before Mrs。
Eyrecourt could proceed with her recollections of 〃the evening at
the Duke's。〃
〃Your charming daughter and I have been talking about Clovelly；〃
he continued。 〃I have just been spending a little holiday in that
delightful place。 It was a surprise to me； Mrs。 Eyrecourt； to see
so many really beautiful country seats in the neighborhood。 I
