the black robe-第53节
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Stella hesitated no longer。
〃He goes to Rome；〃 she said 〃to receive his instructions； and to
become personally acquainted with the missionaries who are
associated with him。 They will leave Leghorn in the next vessel
which sets sail for a port in Central America。 And the dangerous
duty intrusted to them is to re…establish one of the Jesuit
Missions destroyed by the savages years since。 They will find
their church a ruin； and not a vestige left of the house once
inhabited by the murdered priests。 It is not concealed from them
that they may be martyred； too。 They are soldiers of the Cross；
and they gowillingly goto save the souls of the Indians； at
the peril of their lives。〃
Romayne rose； and advanced to the door。 There； he turned； and
spoke to Stella。 〃Where is Arthur？〃 he said。
Stella gently detained him。
〃There was one word more he entreated me to saypray wait and
hear it；〃 she pleaded。 〃His one grief is at leaving You。 Apart
from that； he devotes himself gladly to the dreadful service
which claims him。 He has long looked forward to it； and has long
prepared himself for it。 Those； Lewis； are his own words。〃
There was a knock at the door。 The servant appeared； to announce
that the carriage was waiting。
Penrose entered the room as the man left it。
〃Have you spok en for me？〃 he said to Stella。 She could only
answer him by a gesture。 He turned to Romayne with a faint smile。
〃The saddest of all words must be spoken；〃 he said。 〃Farewell！〃
Pale and trembling； Romayne took his hand。 〃Is this Father
Benwell's doing？〃 he asked。
〃No！〃 Penrose answered firmly。 〃In Father Benwell's position it
might have been his doing； but for his goodness to me。 For the
first time since I have known him he has shrunk from a
responsibility。 For my sake he has left it to Rome。 And Rome has
spoken。 Oh； my more than friendmy brother in love！〃
His voice failed him。 With a resolution which was nothing less
than heroic in a man of his affectionate nature； he recovered his
composure。
〃Let us make it as little miserable as it _can_ be；〃 he said。 〃At
every opportunity we will write to each other。 And； who knowsI
may yet come back to you？ God has preserved his servants in
dangers as great as any that I shall encounter。 May that merciful
God bless and protect you！ Oh； Romayne； what happy days we have
had together！〃 His last powers of resistance were worn out。 Tears
of noble sorrow dimmed the friendly eyes which had never once
looked unkindly on the brother of his love。 He kissed Romayne。
〃Help me out！〃 he said； turning blindly toward the hall； in which
the servant was waiting。 That last act of mercy was not left to a
servant。 With sisterly tenderness； Stella took his hand and led
him away。 〃I shall remember you gratefully as long as I live；〃
she said to him when the carriage door was closed。 He waved his
hand at the window； and she saw him no more。
She returned to the study。
The relief of tears had not come to Romayne。 He had dropped into
a chair when Penrose left him。 In stony silence he sat there； his
head down； his eyes dry and staring。 The miserable days of their
estrangement were forgotten by his wife in the moment when she
looked at him。 She knelt by his side and lifted his head a little
and laid it on her bosom。 Her heart was fullshe let the caress
plead for her silently。 He felt it； his cold fingers pressed her
hand thankfully； but he said nothing。 After a long interval； the
first outward expression of sorrow that fell from his lips showed
that he was still thinking of Penrose。
〃Every blessing falls away from me；〃 he said。 〃I have lost my
best friend。〃
Years afterward Stella remembered those words； and the tone in
which he had spoken them。
CHAPTER VII。
THE IMPULSIVE SEX。
AFTER a lapse of a few days； Father Benwell was again a visitor
at Ten Acres Lodgeby Romayne's invitation。 The priest occupied
the very chair； by the study fireside； in which Penrose had been
accustomed to sit。
〃It is really kind of you to come to me；〃 said Romayne； 〃so soon
after receiving my acknowledgment of your letter。 I can't tell
you how I was touched by the manner in which you wrote of
Penrose。 To my shame I confess it； I had no idea that you were so
warmly attached to him。〃
〃I hardly knew it myself； Mr。 Romayne； until our dear Arthur was
taken away from us。〃
If you used your influence； Father Benwell； is there no hope that
you might yet persuade him？〃
〃To withdraw from the Mission？ Oh； Mr。 Romayne； don't you know
Arthur's character better than that？ Even his gentle temper has
its resolute side。 The zeal of the first martyrs to Christianity
is the zeal that burns in that noble nature。 The Mission has been
the dream of his lifeit is endeared to him by the very dangers
which we dread。 Persuade Arthur to desert the dear and devoted
colleagues who have opened their arms to him？ I might as soon
persuade that statue in the garden to desert its pedestal； and
join us in this room。 Shall we change the sad subject？ Have you
received the book which I sent you with my letter？〃
Romayne took up the book from his desk。 Before he could speak of
it some one called out briskly； on the other side of the door：
〃May I come in？〃and came in； without waiting to be asked。 Mrs。
Eyrecourt； painted and robed for the morningwafting perfumes as
she movedappeared in the study。 She looked at the priest； and
lifted her many…ringed hands with a gesture of coquettish terror。
〃Oh； dear me！ I had no idea you were here； Father Benwell。 I ask
ten thousand pardons。 Dear and admirable Romayne； you don't look
as if you were pleased to see me。 Good gracious！ I am not
interrupting a confession； am I？〃
Father Benwell （with his paternal smile in perfect order）
resigned his chair to Mrs。 Eyrecourt。 The traces of her illness
still showed themselves in an intermittent trembling of her head
and her hands。 She had entered the room； strongly suspecting that
the process of conversion might be proceeding in the absence of
Penrose； and determined to interrupt it。 Guided by his subtle
intelligence； Father Benwell penetrated her motive as soon as she
opened the door。 Mrs。 Eyrecourt bowed graciously； and took the
offered chair。 Father Benwell sweetened his paternal smile and
offered to get a footstool。
〃How glad I am；〃 he said； 〃to see you in your customary good
spirits！ But wasn't it just a little malicious to talk of
interrupting a confession？ As if Mr。 Romayne was one of Us！ Queen
Elizabeth herself could hardly have said a sharper thing to a
poor Catholic priest。〃
〃You clever creature！〃 said Mrs。 Eyrecourt。 〃How easily you see
through a simple woman like me！ ThereI give you my hand to kiss
and I will never try to deceive you again。 Do you know； Father
Benwell； a most extraordinary wish has suddenly come to me。
Please don't be offended。 I wish you were a Jew。〃
〃May I ask why？〃 Father Benwell inquired； with an apostolic
suavity worthy of the best days of Rome。
Mrs。 Eyrecourt explained herself with the modest self…distrust of
a maiden of fifteen。 〃I am really so ignorant； I hardly know how
to put it。 But learned persons have told me that it is the
peculiarity of the Jewsmay I say； the amiable
peculiarity？never to make converts。 It would be so nice if you
would take a leaf out of their book； when we have the happiness
of receiving you here。 My lively imagination pictures you in a
double character。 Father Benwell everywhere else； andsay； the
patriarch Abraham at Ten Acres Lodge。〃
Father Benwell lifted his persuasive hands in courteous protest。
〃My dear lady！ pray make your mind easy。 Not one word on the
subject of religion has passed between Mr。 Romayne and myself〃
〃I beg your pardon；〃 Mrs。 Eyrecourt interposed； 〃I am afraid I
fail to follow you。 My silent son…in…law looks as if he longed to
smother me； and my attention is naturally distracted。 You were
about to say？〃
〃I was about to say； dear Mrs。 Eyrecourt； that you are alarming
yourself without any reason。 Not one word； on any controversial
subject； has passed〃
Mrs。 Eyrecourt cocked her head； with the artless vivacity of a
bird。 〃Ah； but it might；
