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The Black Robe-Part40_WILKIE COLLINS (1824-1899)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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taste--so seldom found in the modern arrangement and decoration

of convents and churches in southern countries--showed itself



here, pressed into the service of religion, in every part of the

house. The severest discipline had no sordid and hideous side to



it in The Retreat. The inmates fasted on spotless tablecloths,

and handled knives and forks (the humble servants of half-filled



stomachs) without a speck on their decentbrightness. Penitents

who kissed the steps of the altar (to use the expressive Oriental



phrase), "eat no dirt." Friends, liberal friends, permitted to

visit the inmates on stated days, saw copies of famous Holy



Families in the reception-room which were really works of Art;

and trod on a carpet of studiously modest pretensions, exhibiting



pious emblems beyond reproach in color and design. The Retreat

had its own artesian well; not a person in the house drank



impurity in his water. A faint perfume of incense was perceptible

in the corridors. The soothing and mysterious silence of the



place was intensified rather than disturbed by soft footsteps,

and gentle opening and closing of doors. Animal life was not even



represented by a cat in the kitchen. And yet, pervaded by some

inscrutable influence, the house was not dull. Heretics, with



lively imaginations, might have not inappropriately likened it to

an enchanted castle. In one word, the Catholic system here showed



to perfection its masterly knowledge of the weakness of human

nature, and its inexhaustible dexterity in adapting the means to



the end.

On the morning when Mrs. Eyrecourt and her daughter held their



memorable interview by the fireside at Ten Acres, Father Benwell

entered one of the private rooms at The Retreat, devoted to the



use of the priesthood. The demure attendant, waitinghumbly for

instructions, was sent to request the presence of



one of the inmates of the house, named Mortleman.

Father Benwell's customary serenity was a little ruffled, on this



occasion, by an appearance of anxiety. More than once he looked

impatiently toward the door, and he never even noticed the last



new devotional publications laid invitingly on the table.

Mr. Mortleman made his appearance--a young man and a promising



convert. The wild brightness of his eyes revealed that incipient

form of brain disease which begins in fanaticism, and ends not



infrequently in religious madness. His manner of greeting the

priest was absolutely servile. He cringed before the illustrious



Jesuit.

Father Benwell took no notice of these demonstrations of



humility. "Be seated, my son," he said. Mr. Mortleman looked as

if he would have preferred going down on his knees, but he



yielded, and took a chair.

"I think you have been Mr. Romayne's companion for a few days, in



the hours of recreation?" the priest began.

"Yes, Father."



"Does he appear to be at all weary of his residence in this

house?"



"Oh, far from it! He feels the benign influence of The Retreat;

we have had some delightful hours together."



"Have you anything to report?"

Mr. Mortleman crossed his hands on his breast and bowed



profoundly. "I have to report of myself, Father, that I have

committed the sin of presumption. I presumed that Mr. Romayne



was, like myself, not married."

"Have I spoken to you on that subject?"



"No, Father."

"Then you have committed no sin. You have only made an excusable



mistake. How were you led into error?"

"In this way, Father. Mr. Romayne had been speaking to me of a



book which you had been so good as to send to him. He had been

especially interested by the memoirtherein contained of the



illustrious Englishman, Cardinal Acton. The degrees by which his

Eminence rose to the rank of a Prince of the Church seemed, as I



thought, to have aroused in my friend a new sense of vocation. He

asked me if I myself aspired to belong to the holy priesthood. I



answered that this was indeed my aspiration, if I might hope to




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