have in view was first taken seriously into consideration, I had

the honor of being personally acquainted with Lord Loring. I was
also aware that he was an intimate and trusted friend of Romayne.

Under these circumstances, his lordship presented himself to our
point of view as a means of approaching the owner of Vange Abbey

without exciting distrust. I was charged accordingly with the
duty of establishing myself on terms of intimacy in this house.

By way of making room for me, the spiritualdirector of Lord and
Lady Loring was removed to a cure of souls in Ireland. And here I

am in his place! By-the-way, don't treat me (when we are in the
presence of visitors) with any special marks of respect. I am not

Provincial of our Order in Lord Loring's house--I am one of the
inferior clergy."

Penrose looked at him with admiration. "It is a great sacrifice
to make, Father, in your position and at your age."

"Not at all, Arthur. A position of authority involves certain
temptations to pride. I feel this change as a lesson in humility

which is good for me. For example, Lady Loring (as I can plainly
see) dislikes and distrusts me. Then, again, a young lady has

recently arrived here on a visit. She is a Protestant, with all
the prejudices incident to that way of thinking--avoids me so

carefully, poor soul, that I have never seen her yet. These
rebuffs are wholesome reminders of his fallible human nature, to

a man who has occupied a place of high trust and command.
Besides, there have been obstacles in my way which have had an

excellent effect in rousing my energies. How do you feel, Arthur,
when you encounterobstacles?"

"I do my best to remove them, Father. But I am sometimes
conscious of a sense of discouragement."

"Curious," said Father Benwell. "I am only conscious, myself, of
a sense of impatience. What right has an obstacle to get in _my_

way?--that is how I look at it. For example, the first thing I
heard, when I came here, was that Romayne had left England. My

introduction to him was indefinitely delayed; I had to look to
Lord Loring for all the information I wanted relating to the man

and his habits. There was another obstacle! Not living in the
house, I was obliged to find an excuse for being constantly on

the spot, ready to take advantage of his lordship's leisure
moments for conversation. I sat down in this room, and I said to

myself, 'Before I get up again, I mean to brush these impertinent
obstacles out of my way!' The state of the books suggested the

idea of which I was in search. Before I left the house, I was
charged with the rearrangement of the library. From that moment I

came and went as often as I liked. Whenever Lord Loring was
disposed for a little talk, there I was, to lead the talk in the

right direction. And what is the result? On the first occasion
when Romayne presents himself I can place you in a position to

become his daily companion. All due, Arthur, in the first
instance, to my impatience of obstacles. Amusing, isn't it?"

Penrose was perhaps deficient in the sense of humor. Instead of
being amused, he appeared to be anxious for more information.

"In what capacity am I to be Mr. Romayne's companion?" he asked.
Father Benwell poured himself out another cup of coffee.

"Suppose I tell you first," he suggested, "how circumstances
present Romayne to us as a promising subject for conversion. He

is young; still a single man; not compromised by any illicit
connection; romantic, sensitive, highly cultivated. No near

relations are alive to influence him; and, to my certain
knowledge, his estate is not entailed. He has devoted himself for

years past to books, and is collecting materials for a work of
immense research, on the Origin of Religions. Some great sorrow

or remorse--Lord Loring did not mention what it was--has told
seriously on his nervoussystem, already injured by night study.

Add to this, that he is now within our reach. He has lately
returned to London, and is living quite alone at a private hotel.

For some reason which I am not acquainted with, he keeps away
from Vange Abbey--the very place, as I should have thought, for a

studious man."
Penrose began to be interested. "Have you been to the Abbey?" he

said.
"I made a little excursion to that part of Yorkshire, Arthur, not

long since. A very pleasant trip--apart from the painful
associations connected with the ruin and profanation of a sacred

place. There is no doubt about the revenues. I know the value of
that productive part of the estate which stretches southward,

away from the barren region round the house. Let us return for a
moment to Romayne, and to your position as his future companion.

He has had his books sent to him from Vange, and has persuaded
himself that continued study is the one remedy for his troubles,

whatever they may be. At Lord Loring's suggestion, a consultation
of physicians was held on his case the other day."

"Is he so ill as that?" Penrose exclaimed.
"So it appears," Father Benwell replied. "Lord Loring is

mysteriously silent about the illness. One result of the
consultation I extracted from him, in which you are interested.

The doctors protested against his employing himself on his
proposed work. He was too obstinate to listen to them. There was

but one concession that they could gain from him--he consented to
spare himself, in some small degree, by employing an amanuensis.

It was left to Lord Loring to find the man. I was consulted by
his lordship; I was even invited to undertake the duty myself.

Each one in his proper sphere, my son! The person who converts
Romayne must be young enough and pliable enough to be his friend

and companion. Your part is there, Arthur--you are the future
amanuensis. How does the prospect strike you now?"

"I beg your pardon, Father! I fear I am unworthy of the
confidence which is placed in me."

"In what way?"
Penrose answered with unfeigned humility.

"I am afraid I may fail to justify your belief in me," he said,
"unless I can really feel that I am converting Mr. Romayne for

his own soul's sake. However righteous the cause may be, I cannot
find, in the restitution of the Church property, a sufficient

motive for persuading him to change his religious faith. There is
something so serious in the responsibility which you lay on me,

that I shall sink under the burden unless my whole heart is in
the work. If I feel attracted toward Mr. Romayne when I first see

him; if he wins upon me, little by little, until I love him like
a brother--then, indeed, I can promise that his conversion shall

be the dearest object of my life. But if there is not this
intimatesympathy between us--forgive me if I say it plainly--I

implore you to pass me over, and to commit the task to the hands
of another man."

His voice trembled; his eyes moistened. Father Benwell handled
his young friend's rising emotion with the dexterity of a skilled

angler humoring the struggles of a lively fish.
"Good Arthur!" he said. "I see much--too much, dear boy--of

self-seeking people. It is as refreshing to me to hear you, as a
draught of water to a thirsty man. At the same time, let me

suggest that you are innocently raising difficulties, where no
difficulties exist. I have already mentioned as one of the

necessities of the case that you and Romayne should be friends.
How can that be, un less there is precisely that sympathy between

you which you have so well described? I am a sanguine man, and I
believe you will like each other. Wait till you see him."

As the words passed his lips, the door that led to the picture
gallery was opened. Lord Loring entered the library.

He looked quickly round him--apparently in search of some person
who might, perhaps, be found in the room. A shade of annoyance

showed itself in his face, and disappeared again, as he bowed to
the two Jesuits.

"Don't let me disturb you," he said, looking at Penrose. "Is this
the gentleman who is to assist Mr. Romayne?"