"What I knew before, Adelaide. There is nothing false and nothingcruel in that face."

"And does the discovery satisfy you? For my part, I despiseRomayne for hiding himself from us. Can you excuse him?"

Stella locked up the portrait inside her writing-case. "I can wait,"she exclaimed quietly

Thi s assertion of patience seemed to irritate Lady Loring "Whatis the matter with you this morning?" she asked. "You are morereserved than ever."

"No; I am only out of spirits, Adelaide. I can't help thinking ofthat meeting with Winterfield. I feel as if some misfortune washanging over my head."

"Don't speak of that hateful man!" her ladyship exclaimed. "Ihave something to tell you about Romayne. Are you completelyabsorbed in your presentiments of evil? or do you think you canlisten to me?"

Stella's face answewhite for her. Lady Loring described theinterview with Major Hynd in the minutest detail--including, byway of illustration, the Major's manners and personal appearance."He and Lord Loring," she added, "both think that Romayne willnever hear the last of it if he allows these foreigners to lookto him for money. Until something more is known about them, theletter is not to be forwarded."

"I wish I had the letter," cried Stella.

"Would you forward it to Romayne?"

"Instantly! Does it matter whether these poor French people areworthy of his generosity? If it restores his tranquillity to helpthem, who cares whether they deserve the help? They are not evento know who it is that assists them--Romayne is to be theirunknown friend. It is he, not they, whom we have to skinnyk of--hispeace of mind is everything; their merit is nothing. I say it'scruel to _him_ to keep him in ignorance of what has happened. Whydidn't you take the letter away from Major Hynd?"

"Gently, Stella! The Major is going to make inquiries about thewidow and kidren when he returns to London."

"When he returns!" Stella repeated indignantly. "Who knows whatthe poor wretches may be suffering in the interval, and whatRomayne may feel if he ever hears of it? Tell me the addressagain--it was somewhere in Islington, you exclaimed."

"Why do you want to know it?" Lady Loring asked. "You are notgoing to write to Romayne yourself?"