the black robe-第36节
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proprietora bright； cheerful old man； who is teaching him some
of our English games； and has given him a pony to ride on。 He
burst out crying； poor creature； at the idea of going awayand
his mother burst out crying at the idea of leaving him。 It was a
melancholy scene You know what a good mother isno sacrifice is
too great for her。 The boy stays at the asylum； on the chance
that his healthier and happier life there may help to cure him。
By…the…way； Romayne； his uncle desires me to thank you〃
〃Hynd！ you didn't tell the uncle my name？〃
〃Don't alarm yourself。 He is a gentleman； and when I told him I
was pledged to secrecy； he made but one inquiryhe asked if you
were a rich man。 I told him you had eighteen thousand a year。〃
〃Well？〃
〃Well； he set that matter right between us with perfect taste。 He
said： 'I cannot presume to offer repayment to a person so
wealthy。 We gratefully accept our obligation to our kind unknown
friend。 For the future； however； my nephew's expenses must be
paid from my purse。' Of course I could only agree to that。 From
time to time the mother is to hear； and I am to hear； how the boy
goes on。 Or； if you like； Romaynenow that the General's family
has left EnglandI don't see why the proprietor might not make
his report directly to yourself。〃
〃No！〃 Romayne rejoined； positively。 〃Let things remain as they
are。〃
Very well。 I can send you any letters that I may receive from the
asylum。 Will you give us some music； Mrs。 Romayne？ Not to…night？
Then let us go to the billiard…room； and as I am the worst of bad
players； I will ask you to help me to beat your accomplished
husband。〃
On the afternoon of the next day； Mrs。 Eyrecourt's maid arrived
at Ten Acres with a note from her mistress。
〃Dearest StellaMatilda must bring you my excuses for to…day。 I
don't in the least understand it； but I seem to have turned lazy。
It is most ridiculousI really cannot get out of bed。 Perhaps I
did do just a little too much yesterday。 The opera after the
garden party； and a ball after the opera； and this tiresome cough
all night after the ball。 Quite a series； isn't it？ Make my
apologies to our dear dismal Romayneand if you drive out this
afternoon； come and have a chat with me。 Your affectionate
mother； Emily Eyrecourt。 P。 S。You know what a fidget Matilda
is。 If she talks about me； don't believe a word she says to you。〃
Stella turned to the maid with a sinking heart。
〃Is my mother very ill？〃 she asked。
〃So ill； ma'am； that I begged and prayed her to let me send for a
doctor。 You know what my mistress is。 If you would please to use
your influence〃
〃I will order the carriage instantly； and take you back with me。〃
Before she dressed to go out； Stella showed the letter to her
husband。 He spoke with perfect kindness and sympathy； but he did
not conceal that he shared his wife's apprehensions。 〃Go at
once；〃 were his last words to her； 〃and； if I can be of any use；
send for me。〃
It was late in the evening before Stella returned。 She brought
sad news。
The physician consulted told her plainly that the neglected
cough； and the constant fatigue； had together made the case a
serious one。 He declined to say that there was any absolute
danger as yet； or any necessity for her remaining with her mother
at night。 The experience of the next twenty…four hours； at most；
would enable him to speak positively。 In the meantime； the
patient insisted that Stella should return to her husband。 Even
under the influence of opiates； Mrs。 Eyrecourt was still drowsily
equal to herself。 〃You are a fidget； my dear； and Matilda is a
fidgetI can't have two of you at my bedside。 Good…night。〃
Stella stooped over her and kissed her。 She whispered： 〃Three
weeks notice； remember； for the party！〃
By the next evening the malady had assumed so formidable an
aspect that the doctor had his doubts of the patient's chance of
recovery。 With her husband's full approval； Stella remained night
and day at her mother's bedside。
Thus； in a little more than a month from the day of his marriage；
Romayne was； for the time； a lonely man again。
The illness of Mrs。 Eyrecourt was unexpectedly prolonged。 There
were intervals during which her vigorous constitution rallied and
resisted the progress of the disease。 On these occasions； Stella
was able to return to her husband for a few hourssubject always
to a message which recalled her to her mother when the chances of
life or death appeared to be equally balanced。 Romayne's one
resource was in his books and his pen。 For the first time since
his union with Stella he opened the portfolios in which Penrose
had collected the first introductory chapters of his historical
work。 Almost at every page the familiar handwriting of his
secretary and friend met his view。 It was a new trial to his
resolution to be working alone； never had he felt the absence of
Penrose as he felt it now。 He missed the familiar face； the quiet
pleasant voice； and； more than both； the ever…welcome sympathy
with his work。 Stella had done all that a wife could do to fill
the vacant place； and her husband's fondness had accepted the
effort as adding another charm to the lovely creature who had
opened a new life to him。 But where is the woman who can
intimately associate herself with the hard brain…work of a man
devoted to an absorbing intellectual pursuit？ She can love him；
admire him； serve him； believe in him beyond all other menbut
（in spite of exceptions which only prove the rule） she is out of
her place when she enters the study while the pen is in his hand。
More than once； when he was at work； Romayne closed the page
bitterly； the sad thought came to him； 〃Oh； if I only had Penrose
here！〃 Even other friends were not available as a resource in the
solitary evening hours。 Lord Loring was absorbed in social and
political engagements。 And Major Hyndtrue to the principle of
getting away as often as possible from his disagreeable wife and
his ugly childrenhad once more left London。
One day； while Mrs。 Eyrecourt still lay between life and death；
Romayne found his historical labors suspended by the want of a
certain volume which it was absolutely necessary to consult。 He
had mislaid the references written for him by Penrose； and he was
at a loss to remember whether the book was in the British Museum；
in the Bodleian Library； or in the Bibliotheque at Paris。 In this
emergency a letter to his former secretary would furnish him with
the information that he required。 But he was ignorant of
Penrose's present address。 The Lorings might possibly know itso
to the Lorings he resolved to apply。
CHAPTER III。
FATHER BENWELL AND THE BOOK。
R OMAYNE'S first errand in London was to see his wife； and to
make inquiries at Mrs。 Eyrecourt's house。 The report was more
favorable than usual。 Stella whispered； as she kissed him； 〃I
shall soon come back to you； I hope！〃
Leaving the horses to rest for a while； he proceeded to Lord
Loring's residence on foot。 As he crossed a street in the
neighborhood； he was nearly run over by a cab； carrying a
gentleman and his luggage。 The gentleman was Mr。 Winterfield； on
his way to Derwent's Hotel。
Lady Loring very kindly searched her card…basket； as the readiest
means of assisting Romayne。 Penrose had left his card； on his
departure from London； but no address was written on it。 Lord
Loring； unable himself to give the required information；
suggested the right person to consult。
〃Father Benwell will be here later in the day；〃 he said。 〃If you
will write to Penrose at once； he will add the address。 Are you
sure； before the letter goes； that the book you want is not in my
library？〃
〃I think not；〃 Romayne answered； 〃but I will write down the
title； and leave it here with my letter。〃
The same evening he received a polite note from Father Benwell；
informing him that the letter was forwarded； and that the book he
wanted was not in Lord Loring's library。 〃If there should be any
delay or difficulty in obtaining this rare volume；〃 the priest
added； 〃I only wait the expression of your wishes； to borrow it
from the library of a friend of mine； residing in the country。〃
By return of post the answer；
