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The Black Robe-Part34_WILKIE COLLINS (1824-1899)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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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

sister--worked on the enthusiasm which was part of the girl's



nature--and 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 force--he 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 lovingresistance 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 convent--she 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 you--but 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,

on the course which Winterfield might take, when he had read the



confession of the unhappy woman who had once been his wife.

Would he show the letter to Stella, at a private interview, as an



unanswerable proof that she had cruelly wronged him? And would it

in this case be desirable--if the thing could be done--so to



handle circumstances as that Romayne might be present, unseen,

and might discover the truth for himself? In the other



event--that is to say, if Winterfield abstained from

communicating the confession to Stella--the responsibility of



making the necessary disclosure must remain with the priest.




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