the black robe-第55节
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at my lodgings。 Six o'clock； if you likeand some remarkably
good claret； a present from one of the Faithful。 You will？ That's
hearty！ And do promise me to think no more of our little domestic
comedy。 Relieve your mind。 Look at Wiseman's 'Recollections of
the Popes。' Good…byGod bless you！〃
The servant who opened the house door for Father Benwell was
agreeably surprised by the Papist's cheerfulness。 〃He isn't half
a bad fellow；〃 the man announced among his colleagues。 〃Give me
half…a…crown； and went out humming a tune。〃
CHAPTER VIII。
FATHER BENWELL'S CORRESPONDENCE
_To the Secretary； S。 J。； Rome。_
I。
I BEG to acknowledge the receipt of your letter。 You mention that
our Reverend Fathers are discouraged at not having heard from me
for more than six weeks； since I reported the little dinner given
to Romayne at my lodgings。
I am sorry for this； and more than sorry to hear that my
venerated brethren are beginning to despair of Romayne's
conversion。 Grant me a delay of another weekand； if the
prospects of the conversion have not sensibly improved in that
time； I will confess myself defeated。 Meanwhile； I bow to
superior wisdom； without venturing to add a word in my own
defense。
II。
The week's grace granted to me has elapsed。 I write with
humility。 At the same time I have something to say for myself。
Yesterday； Mr。 Lewis Romayne； of Vange Abbey； was received into
the community of the Holy Catholic Church。 I inclose an accurate
newspaper report of the ceremonies which attended the conversion。
Be pleased to inform me； by telegraph； whether our Reverend
Fathers wish me to go on； or not。
BOOK THE FIFTH。
CHAPTER I。
MRS。 EYRECO URT'S DISCOVERY。
THE leaves had fallen in the grounds at Ten Acres Lodge； and
stormy winds told drearily that winter had come。
An unchanging dullness pervaded the house。 Romayne was constantly
absent in London； attending to his new religious duties under the
guidance of Father Benwell。 The litter of books and manuscripts
in the study was seen no more。 Hideously rigid order reigned in
the unused room。 Some of Romayne's papers had been burned； others
were imprisoned in drawers and cupboardsthe history of the
Origin of Religions had taken its melancholy place among the
suspended literary enterprises of the time。 Mrs。 Eyrecourt （after
a superficially cordial reconciliation with her son…in…law）
visited her daughter every now and then； as an act of maternal
sacrifice。 She yawned perpetually； she read innumerable novels；
she corresponded with her friends。 In the long dull evenings； the
once…lively lady sometimes openly regretted that she had not been
born a manwith the three masculine resources of smoking；
drinking； and swearing placed at her disposal。 It was a dreary
existence； and happier influences seemed but little likely to
change it。 Grateful as she was to her mother； no persuasion would
induce Stella to leave Ten Acres and amuse herself in London。
Mrs。 Eyrecourt said； with melancholy and metaphorical truth；
〃There is no elasticity left in my child。〃
On a dim gray morning； mother and daughter sat by the fireside；
with another long day before them。
〃Where is that contemptible husband of yours？〃 Mrs。 Eyrecourt
asked； looking up from her book。
〃Lewis is staying in town；〃 Stella answered listlessly。
〃In company with Judas Iscariot？〃
Stella was too dull to immediately understand the allusion。 〃Do
you mean Father Benwell？〃 she inquired。
〃Don't mention his name； my dear。 I have re…christened him on
purpose to avoid it。 Even his name humiliates me。 How completely
the fawning old wretch took me inwith all my knowledge of the
world； too！ He was so nice and sympatheticsuch a comforting
contrast； on that occasion； to you and your husbandI declare I
forgot every reason I had for not trusting him。 Ah； we women are
poor creatureswe may own it among ourselves。 If a man only has
nice manners and a pleasant voice； how many of us can resist him？
Even Romayne imposed upon meassisted by his property； which in
some degree excuses my folly。 There is nothing to be done now；
Stella； but to humor him。 Do as that detestable priest does； and
trust to your beauty （there isn't as much of it left as I could
wish） to turn the scale in your favor。 Have you any idea when the
new convert will come back？ I heard him ordering a fish dinner
for himself； yesterdaybecause it was Friday。 Did you join him
at dessert…time； profanely supported by meat？ What did he say？〃
〃What he has said more than once already； mama。 His peace of mind
is returning； thanks to Father Benwell。 He was perfectly gentle
and indulgentbut he looked as if he lived in a different world
from mine。 He told me he proposed to pass a week in； what he
called； Retreat。 I didn't ask him what it meant。 Whatever it is；
I suppose he is there now。〃
〃My dear； don't you remember your sister began in the same way？
_She_ retreated。 We shall have Romayne with a red nose and a
double chin； offering to pray for us next！ Do you recollect that
French maid of minethe woman I sent away； because she would
spit； when she was out of temper； like a cat？ I begin to think I
treated the poor creature harshly。 When I hear of Romayne and his
Retreat； I almost feel inclined to spit； myself。 There！ let us go
on with your reading。 Take the first volumeI have done with
it。〃
〃What is it； mama？〃
〃A very remarkable work； Stella； in the present state of light
literature in Englanda novel that actually tells a story。 It's
quite incredible； I know。 Try the book。 It has another
extraordinary meritit isn't written by a woman。〃
Stella obediently received the first volume； turned over the
leaves； and wearily dropped the wonderful novel on her lap。 〃I
can't attend to it；〃 she said。 〃My mind is too full of my own
thoughts。〃
〃About Romayne？〃 said her mother。
〃No。 When I think of my husband now； I almost wish I had his
confidence in Priests and Retreats。 The conviction grows on me；
mama； that my worst troubles are still to come。 When I was
younger； I don't remember being tormented by presentiments of any
kind。 Did I ever talk of presentiments to you； in the bygone
days？〃
〃If you had done anything of the sort； my love （excuse me； if I
speak plainly）； I should have said； 'Stella； your liver is out of
order'； and I should have opened the family medicine…chest。 I
will only say now send for the carriage； let us go to a morning
concert； dine at a restaurant； and finish the evening at the
play。〃
This characteristic proposal was entirely thrown away on Stella。
She was absorbed in pursuing her own train of thought。 〃I almost
wish I had told Lewis；〃 she said to herself absently。
〃Told him of what； my dear？〃
〃Of what happened to me with Winterfield。〃
Mrs。 Eyrecourt's faded eyes opened wide in astonishment。
〃Do you really mean it？〃 she asked。
〃I do； indeed。〃
〃Are you actually simple enough； Stella； to think that a man of
Romayne's temper would have made you his wife if you had told him
of the Brussels marriage？〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Why not！ Would Romaynewould any manbelieve that you really
did part from Winterfield at the church door？ Considering that
you are a married woman； your innocence； my sweet child； is a
perfect phenomenon！ It's well there were wiser people than you to
keep your secret。〃
〃Don't speak too positively； mama。 Lewis may find it out yet。〃
〃Is that one of your presentiments？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃How is he to find it out； if you please？〃
〃I am afraid； through Father Benwell。 Yes！ yes！ I know you only
think him a fawning old hypocriteyou don't fear him as I do。
Nothing will persuade me that zeal for his religion is the motive
under which that man acts in devoting himself to Romayne。 He has
some abominable object in view； and his eyes tell me that I am
concerned in it。〃
Mrs。 Eyrecourt burst out laughing。
〃What is there to laugh at？〃 Stella asked。
〃I declare； my dear； there is something absolutely provoking in
your utter want of knowledge of the world！ When you are puzzled
