the black robe-第48节
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〃What have I forgotten？〃
〃A serious consideration； perhaps。 I have a Protestant wife。〃
〃I have borne that in mind； Romayne； throughout our
conversation。〃
〃And you still saywhat you have just said？〃
〃With my whole heart； I say it！ Be converted； and be happy。 Be
happy； and you will be a good husband。 I speak in your wife 's
interest as well as in yours。 People who are happy in each
other's society； will yield a little on either side； even on
questions of religious belief。 And perhaps there may follow a
more profitable result still。 So far as I have observed； a good
husband's example is gladly followed by his wife。 Don't think
that I am trying to persuade you against your will！ I am only
telling you； in my own justification； from what motives of love
for yourself； and of true interest in your welfare； I speak。 You
implied just now that you had still some objections left。 If I
can remove themwell and good。 If I failif you cannot act on
purely conscientious convictionI not only advise； I entreat
you； to remain as you are。 I shall be the first to acknowledge
that you have done right。〃
（This moderation of tone would appeal irresistibly； as Stella
well knew； to her husband's ready appreciation of those good
qualities in others which he did not himself possess。 Once more
her suspicion wronged Penrose。 Had he his own interested motives
for pleading her cause？ At the bare thought of it； she left her
chair and； standing under the window； boldly interrupted the
conversation by calling to Romayne。）
〃Lewis！〃 she cried； 〃why do you stay indoors on this beautiful
day？ I am sure Mr。 Penrose would like a walk in the grounds。〃
Penrose appeared alone at the window。 〃You are quite right； Mrs。
Romayne；〃 he said； 〃we will join you directly。〃
In a few minutes he turned the corner of the house； and met
Stella on the lawn。 Romayne was not with him。 〃Is my husband not
coming with us？〃 she asked。 〃He will follow us；〃 Penrose
answered。 〃I believe he has some letters to write。〃
Stella looked at him； suspecting some underhand exercise of
influence on her husband。
If she had been able to estimate the noble qualities in the
nature of Penrose； she might have done him the justice to arrive
at a truer conclusion。 It was he who had asked leave （when Stella
had interrupted them） to take the opportunity of speaking alone
with Mrs。 Romayne。 He had said to his friend； 〃If I am wrong in
my anticipation of the effect of your change of religion on your
wife； let me find it out from herself。 My one object is to act
justly toward you and toward her。 I should never forgive myself
if I made mischief between you； no matter how innocent of any
evil intention I might be。〃 Romayne had understood him。 It was
Stella's misfortune ignorantly to misinterpret everything that
Penrose said or did； for the all…sufficient reason that he was a
Catholic priest。 She had drawn the conclusion that her husband
had deliberately left her alone with Penrose； to be persuaded or
deluded into giving her sanction to aid the influence of the
priest。 〃They shall find they are mistaken；〃 she thought to
herself。
〃Have I interrupted an interesting conversation？〃 she inquired
abruptly。 〃When I asked you to come out； were you talking to my
husband about his historical work？〃
〃No； Mrs。 Romayne； we were not speaking at that time of the
book。〃
〃May I ask an odd question； Mr。 Penrose？〃
〃Certainly！〃
〃Are you a very zealous Catholic？〃
〃Pardon me。 I am a priest。 Surely my profession speaks for me？〃
〃I hope you are not trying to convert my husband？〃
Penrose stopped and looked at her attentively。
〃Are you strongly opposed to your husband's conversion？〃 he
asked。
〃As strongly；〃 she answered； 〃as a woman can be。〃
〃By religious conviction； Mrs。 Romayne？〃
〃No。 By experience。〃
Penrose started。 〃Is it indiscreet；〃 he said gently； 〃to inquire
what your experience may have been？〃
〃I will tell you what my experience has been；〃 Stella replied。 〃I
am ignorant of theological subtleties； and questions of doctrine
are quite beyond me。 But this I do know。 A well…meaning and
zealous Catholic shortened my father's life； and separated me
from an only sister whom I dearly loved。 I see I shock youand I
daresay you think I am exaggerating？〃
〃I hear what you say； Mrs。 Romayne； with very great painI don't
presume to form any opinion thus far。〃
〃My sad story can be told in a few words；〃 Stella proceeded。
〃When my elder sister was still a young girl； an aunt of ours （my
mother's sister） came to stay with us。 She had married abroad；
and she was； as I have said； a zealous Catholic。 Unknown to the
rest of us； she held conversations on religion with my
sisterworked on the enthusiasm which was part of the girl's
natureand accomplished her conversion。 Other influences； of
which I know nothing； were afterward brought to bear on my
sister。 She declared her intention of entering a convent。 As she
was under age； my father had only to interpose his authority to
prevent this。 She was his favorite child。 He had no heart to
restrain her by forcehe could only try all that the kindest and
best of fathers could do to persuade her to remain at home。 Even
after the years that have passed； I cannot trust myself to speak
of it composedly。 She persisted； she was as hard as stone。 My
aunt； when she was entreated to interfere； called her heartless
obstinacy 'a vocation。' My poor father's loving resistance was
worn out； he slowly drew nearer and nearer to death； from the day
when she left us。 Let me do her justice； if I can。 She has not
only never regretted entering the conventshe is so happily
absorbed in her religious duties that she has not the slightest
wish to see her mother or me。 My mother's patience was soon worn
out。 The last time I went to the convent； I went by myself。 I
shall never go there again。 She could not conceal her sense of
relief when I took my leave of her。 I need say no more。 Arguments
are thrown away on me； Mr。 Penrose； after what I have seen and
felt。 I have no right to expect that the consideration of my
happiness will influence youbut I may perhaps ask you； as a
gentleman； to tell me the truth。 Do you come here with the
purpose of converting my husband？〃
Penrose owned the truth； without an instant's hesitation。
〃I cannot take your view of your sister's pious devotion of
herself to a religious life；〃 he said。 〃But I can； and will；
answer you truly。 From the time when I first knew him； my dearest
object has been to convert your husband to the Catholic Faith。〃
Stella drew back from him； as if he had stung her； and clasped
her hands in silent despair。
〃But I am bound as a Christian；〃 he went on； 〃to do to others as
I would they should do to me。〃
She turned on him suddenly； her beautiful face radiant with hope；
her hand trembling as it caught him by the arm。
〃Speak plainly！〃 she cried。
He obeyed her to the letter。
〃The happiness of my friend's wife； Mrs。 Romayne； is sacred to me
for his sake。 Be the good angel of your husband's life。 I abandon
the purpose of converting him。〃
He lifted her hand from his arm and raised it respectfully to his
lips。 Then； when he had bound himself by a promise that was
sacred to him； the terrible influence of the priesthood shook
even that brave and lofty soul。 He said to himself； as he left
her； 〃God forgive me if I have done wrong！〃
CHAPTER III。
WINTERFIELD RETURNS。
TWICE Father Benwell called at Derwent's Hotel； and twice he was
informed that no news had been received there of Mr。 Winterfield。
At the third attempt； his constancy was rewarded。 Mr。 Winterfield
had written； and was expected to arrive at the hotel by five
o'clock。
It was then half…past four。 Father Benwell decided to await the
return of his friend。
He was as anxious to deliver the papers which the proprietor of
the asylum had confided to him； as if he had never broken a seal
or used a counterfeit to hide the betrayal of a trust。 The
re…sealed packet was safe in the pocket of his long black
frockcoat。 His own future proceedings depended； in some degree；
