the black robe-第35节
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says she 'feels like that character in Shakespeare who was cut by
his own daughters。' Read it。〃
He handed her the letter。 In taking it； she contrived to touch
the lamp shade； as if by accident； and tilted it so that the full
flow of the light fell on him。 He started backbut not before
she had seen the ghastly pallor on his face。 She had not only
heard it from Lady Loring； she knew from his own unreserved
confession to her what that startling change really meant。 In an
instant she was on her knees at his feet。 〃Oh； my darling；〃 she
cried； 〃it was cruel to keep _that_ secret from your wife！ You
have heard it again！〃
She was too irresistibly beautiful； at that moment； to be
reproved。 He gently raised her from the floorand owned the
truth。
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃I heard it after you left me on the
Belviderejust as I heard it on another moonlight night； when
Major Hynd was here with me。 Our return to this house is perhaps
the cause。 I don't complain； I have had a long release。〃
She threw her arms round his neck。 〃We will leave Vange
to…morrow；〃 she said。
It was firmly spoken。 But her heart sank as the words passed her
lips。 Vange Abbey had been the scene of the most unalloyed
happiness in her life。 What destiny was waiting for her when she
returned to London？
CHAPTER II。
EVENTS AT TEN ACRES。
THERE was no obstacle to the speedy departure of Romayne and his
wife from Vange Abbey。 The villa at Highgatecalled Ten Acres
Lodge； in allusion to the measurement of the grounds surrounding
the househad been kept in perfect order by the servants of the
late Lady Berrick； now in the employment of her nephew。
On the morning after their arrival at the villa； Stella sent a
note to her mother。 The same afternoon； Mrs。 Eyrecourt arrived at
Ten Acreson her way to a garden…party。 Finding the house； to
her great relief； a modern building； supplied with all the newest
comforts and luxuries； she at once began to plan a grand party；
in celebration of the return of the bride and bridegroom。
〃I don't wish to praise myself；〃 Mrs。 Eyrecourt said； 〃but if
ever there was a forgiving woman； I am that person。 We will say
no more； Stella； about your truly contemptible weddingfive
people altogether； including ourselves and the Lorings。 A grand
ball will set you right with society； and that is the one thing
needful。 Tea and coffee； my dear Romayne； in your study； Coote's
quadrille band； the supper from Gunter's； the grounds illuminated
with colored lamps； Tyrolese singers among the trees； relieved by
military musicand； if there _are_ any African or other savages
now in London； there is room enough in these charming grounds for
encampments； dances； squaws； scalps； and all the rest of it； to
end in a blaze of fireworks。〃
A sudden fit of coughing seized her； and stopped the further
enumeration of attractions at the contemplated ball。 Stella had
observed that her mother looked unusually worn and haggard；
through the disguises of paint and powder。 This was not an
uncommon result of Mrs。 Eyrecourt's devotion to the demands of
society； but the cough was something new； as a symptom of
exhaustion。
〃I am afraid； mamma； you have been overexerting yourself；〃 said
Stella。 〃You go to too many parties。〃
〃Nothing of the sort； my dear； I am as strong as a horse。 The
other night； I was waiting for the carriage in a draught （one of
the most perfect private concerts of the season； ending with a
delightfully naughty little French play）and I caught a slight
cold。 A glass of water is all I want。 Thank you。 Romayne； you are
looking shockingly serious and severe； our ball will cheer you。
If you would only make a bonfire of all those horrid books； you
don't know how it would improve your spirits。 Dearest Stella； I
will come and lunch here to…morrowyou are within such a nice
easy drive from townand I'll bring my visiting…book； and settle
about the invitations and the day。 Oh； dear me； how late it is。 I
have nearly an hour's drive before I get to my garden party。
Good…by； my turtle doves good…by。〃
She was stopped； on the way to her carriage； by another fit of
coughing。 But she still persisted in making light of it。 〃I'm as
strong as a horse；〃 she repeated； as soon as she could speakand
skipped into the carriage like a young girl。
〃Your mother is killing herself；〃 said Romayne。
〃If I could persuade her to stay with us a little while；〃 Stella
suggested； 〃the rest and quiet might do wonders for her。 Would
you object to it； Lewis？〃
〃My darling； I object to nothingexcept giving a ball and
burning my books。 If your mother will yield on these two points；
my house is entirely at her disposal。〃
He spoke playfullyhe looked his best； since he had separated
himself from the painful associations that were now connected
with Vange Abbey。 Had 〃the torment of the Voice〃 been left far
away in Yorkshire？ Stella shrank from approaching the subject in
her husband's presence； knowing that it must remind him of the
fatal duel。 To her surprise； Romayne himself referred to the
General's family。
〃I have written to Hynd；〃 he began。 〃Do you mind his dining with
us to…day？〃
〃Of course not！〃
〃I want to hear if he has anything to tell meabout those French
ladies。 He undertook to see them； in your absence； and to
ascertain〃 He was unable to overcome his reluctance to
pronounce the next words。 Stella was quick to understand what he
meant。 She finished the sentence for him。
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃I wanted to hear how the boy is getting on； and
if there is any hope of curing him。 Is it〃 he trembled as he
put the question〃Is it hereditary madness？〃
Feeling the serious importance of concealing the truth； Stella
only replied that she had hesitated to ask if there was a taint
of madness in the family。 〃I suppose；〃 she added； 〃you would not
like to see the boy； and judge of his chances of recovery for
yourself？〃
〃You suppose？〃 he burst out； with sudden anger。 〃You might be
sure。 The bare idea of seeing him turns me cold。 Oh； when shall I
forget！ when shall I forget！ Who spoke of him first？〃 he said；
with renewed irritability； after a moment of silence。 〃You or I？〃
〃It was my fault； lovehe is so harmless and so gentle； and he
has such a sweet faceI thought it might soothe you to see him。
Forgive me； we will never speak of him again。 Have you any notes
for me to copy？ You know； Lewis； I am your secretary now。〃
So she led Romayne away to his study and his books。 When Major
Hynd arrived； she contrived to be the first to see him。 〃Say as
litt le as possible about the General's widow and her son；〃 she
whispered。
The Major understood her。 〃Don't be uneasy； Mrs。 Romayne；〃 he
answered。 〃I know your husband well enough to know what you mean。
Besides； the news I bring is good news。〃
Romayne came in before he could speak more particularly。 When the
servants had left the room； after dinner； the Major made his
report。
〃I am going to agreeably surprise you；〃 he began。 〃All
responsibility toward the General's family is taken off our
hands。 The ladies are on their way back to France。〃
Stella was instantly reminded of one of the melancholy incidents
associated with her visit to Camp's Hill。 〃Madame Marillac spoke
of a brother of hers who disapproved of the marriage；〃 she said。
〃Has he forgiven her？〃
〃That is exactly what he has done； Mrs。 Romayne。 Naturally
enough； he felt the disgrace of his sister's marriage to such a
man as the General。 Only the other day he heard for the first
time that she was a widowand he at once traveled to England。 I
bade them good…by yesterdaymost happily reunitedon their
journey home again。 Ah； I thought you would be glad； Mrs。
Romayne； to hear that the poor widow's troubles are over。 Her
brother is rich enough to place them all in easy
circumstanceshe is as good a fellow as ever lived。〃
〃Have you seen him？〃 Stella asked； eagerly。
〃I have been with him to the asylum。〃
〃Does the boy go back to France？〃
〃No。 We took the place by surprise； and saw for ourselves how
well conducted it was。 The boy has taken a strong liking to the
proprietora bright； cheerful old man； who is teachin
