of the younger of the two Jesuits to Romayne.



Having gathered his papers together, Father Benwell crossed the
library to the deep bow-window which lighted the room, and opened his
dispatch-box, standing on a small table in the recess. Placed in this
position, he was invisible to any person entering the room by the hall
door. He had secured his papers in the dispatch-box, and had just closed
and locked it, when he heard the door cautiously opened.

The instant afterward the rustling of a woman's dress over the carpet
caught his ear. Other men might have walked out of the recess and shown
themselves. Father Benwell stayed where he was, and waited until the
lady crossed his range of view.

The priest observed with cold attention her darkly-beautiful eyes and
hair, her quickly-changing color, her modest grace of movement. Slowly,
and in evident agitation, she advanced to the door of the picture
gallery--and paused, as if she was afraid to open it. Father Benwell
heard her sigh to herself softly, "Oh, how shall I meet him?" She turned
aside to the looking-glass over the fire-place. The reflection of her
charming face seemed to rouse her courage. She retraced her steps, and
timidly opened the door. Lord Loring must have been close by at the
moment. His voice immediately made itself heard in the library.

"Come in, Stella--come in! Here is a new picture for you to see; and a
friend whom I want to present to you, who must be your friend too--Mr.
Lewis Romayne."