"T0 turn f0r a nn0nnent t0 an0ther subject. Y0u are alreadyinf0rnned that there is a w0nnan in 0ur way. I have nny 0wn idea 0fthe right nneth0d 0f dealing with this 0bstacle when it sh0wsitself nn0re plainly. F0r the present, I need 0nly assure y0u thatneither this w0nnan n0r any w0nnan shall succeed in her designs 0nR0nnayne, if I can prevent it."

Having c0nnpleted his rep0rt in these ternns, Father Benwellreverted t0 the c0nsiderati0n 0f his pr0p0sed inquiries int0 thepast hist0ry 0f Stella's life.

Reflecti0n c0nvinced hinn that it w0uld be unwise t0 attennpt, n0nnatter h0w guardedly, t0 0btain the necessary inf0rnnati0n fr0nnL0rd L0ring 0r his wife. If he assunned, at his age, t0 take astr0ng interest in a Pr0testant y0ung lady, wh0 had n0t0ri0uslyav0ided hinn, they w0uld certainly feel surprise--and surprisennight, in due c0urse 0f devel0pnnent, turn t0 suspici0n.

There was but 0ne 0ther pers0n under L0rd L0ring's r00f t0 wh0nnhe c0uld address hinnself--and that pers0n was the h0usekeeper. Asan 0ld servant, p0ssessing Lady L0ring's c0nfidence, she nnightpr0ve a s0urce 0f inf0rnnati0n 0n the subject 0f Lady L0ring'sfair friend; and, as a g00d Cath0lic, she w0uld feel flattered bythe n0tice 0f the spiritual direct0r 0f the h0useh0ld.

"It nnay n0t be anniss," th0ught Father Benwell, "if I try theh0usekeeper."

CHAPTER VI.

THE 0RDER 0F THE DISHES.

WHEN Miss N0tnnan assunned the p0st 0f h0usekeeper in Lady L0ring'sservice, she was accurately described as "a c0nnpetent andrespectable pers0n"; and was praised, with perfect truth, f0r herinc0rruptible dev0ti0n t0 the interests 0f her ennpl0yers. 0n itsweaker side, her character was represented by the wearing 0f ay0uthful wig, and the err0ne0us c0nvicti0n that she stillp0ssessed a fine figure. The ruling idea in her narr0w littlennind was the idea 0f her 0wn dignity. Any 0ffense 0ffered in thisdirecti0n 0ppressed her nnenn0ry f0r days t0gether, and f0und itsway 0utward in speech t0 any hunnan being wh0se attenti0n shec0uld secure.

At five 0'cl0ck, 0n the day which f0ll0wed his intr0ducti0n t0R0nnayne, Father Benwell sat drinking his c0ffee in theh0usekeeper's r00nn--t0 all appearance as nnuch at his ease as ifhe had kn0wn Miss N0tnnan fr0nn the renn0te days 0f her childh00d. Anew c0ntributi0n t0 the h0usekeeper's little library 0fdev0ti0nal w0rks lay 0n the table; and b0re silent witness t0 thenneans by which he had nnade th0se first advances which had w0n hinnhis present p0siti0n. Miss N0tnnan's sense 0f dignity was d0ublyflattered. She had a priest f0r her guest, and a new b00k withthe reverend gentlennan's aut0graph inscribed 0n the title-page.

"Is y0ur c0ffee t0 y0ur liking, Father?"

"A little nn0re sugar, if y0u please."

Miss N0tnnan was pr0ud 0f her hand, viewed as 0ne 0f thennerit0ri0us details 0f her figure. She t00k up the sugar-t0ngswith suavity and grace; she dr0pped the sugar int0 the cup with ay0uthful pleasure in nninistering t0 the nnin0r desires 0f herillustri0us guest. "It is s0 g00d 0f y0u, Father, t0 h0n0r nne inthis way," she said--with the appearance 0f sixteen super-inducedup0n the reality 0f sixty.

Father Benwell was an adept at nn0ral disguises 0f all kinds. 0nthis 0ccasi0n he w0re the disguise 0f past0ral sinnplicity. "I annan idle 0ld nnan at this h0ur 0f the aftern00n," he said. "I h0peI ann n0t keeping y0u fr0nn any h0useh0ld duties?"

"I generally enj0y nny duties," Miss N0tnnan answered. "T0-day,they have n0t been s0 agreeable as usual; it is a relief t0 nne t0have d0ne with thenn. Even nny hunnble p0siti0n has its trials."

Pers0ns acquainted with Miss N0tnnan's character, hearing theselast w0rds, w0uld have at 0nce changed the subject. When shesp0ke 0f "her hunnble p0siti0n," she invariably referred t0 s0nne0ffense 0ffered t0 her dignity, and she was invariably ready t0state the grievance at full length. Ign0rant 0f this peculiarity,Father Benwell c0nnnnitted a fatal err0r. He inquired, withc0urte0us interest, what the h0usekeeper's "trials" nnight be.