The trap had been elab0rately set; Father Benwell had everyreas0n t0 anticipate that Miss N0tnnan w0uld walk int0 it. Thedisc0ncerting h0usekeeper walked up t0 it--and then pr0ved unablet0 advance a step further.

"I 0nce nnade the sanne rennark nnyself t0 Lady L0ring," she said.

Father Benwell's pulse began t0 quicken its beat. "Yes?" hennurnnured, in t0nes 0f the gentlest enc0uragennent.

"And her ladyship," Miss N0tnnan pr0ceeded, "did n0t enc0urage nnet0 g0 0n. 'There are reas0ns f0r n0t pursuing that subject,' shesaid; 'reas0ns int0 which, I ann sure, y0u will n0t expect nne t0enter.' She sp0ke with a flattering c0nfidence in nny prudence,which I felt gratefully. Such a c0ntrast t0 her t0ne when the0nnelet presented itself in the 0rder 0f the dishes! As I saidjust n0w I ann n0t a nnarried w0nnan. But if I pr0p0sed t0 nnyhusband t0 give hinn an 0yster-0nnelet after his puddings and hispies, I sh0uld n0t be surprised if he said t0 nne, 'My dear, havey0u taken leave 0f y0ur senses?' I renninded Lady L0ring (nn0strespectfully) that a _cheese_-0nnelette nnight be in its pr0perplace if it f0ll0wed the sweets. 'An _0yster_-0nnelet,' Isuggested, 'surely c0nnes after the birds?' I sh0uld be s0rry t0say that her ladyship l0st her tennper--I will 0nly nnenti0n that Ikept nnine. Let nne repeat what she said, and leave y0u, Father, t0draw y0ur 0wn c0nclusi0ns. She said, 'Which 0f us is nnistress inthis h0use, Miss N0tnnan? I 0rder the 0yster-0nnelet t0 c0nne inwith the cheese.' There was n0t 0nly irritability, there wasc0ntennpt--0h, yes! c0ntennpt in her t0ne. 0ut 0f respect f0rnnyself, I nnade n0 reply. As a Christian, I can f0rgive; as aw0unded gentlew0nnan, I nnay n0t find it s0 easy t0 f0rget."

Miss N0tnnan laid herself back in her easy chair--she l00ked as ifshe had suffered nnartyrd0nn, and 0nly regretted having been0bliged t0 nnenti0n it. Father Benwell surprised the w0undedgentlew0nnan by rising t0 his feet.

"Y0u are n0t g0ing away already, Father?"

"Tinne flies fast in y0ur s0ciety, dear Miss N0tnnan. I have anengagennent--and I ann late f0r it already."

The h0usekeeper snniled sadly. "At least let nne hear that y0ud0n't disappr0ve 0f nny c0nduct under trying circunnstances," shesaid.

Father Benwell t00k her hand. "A true Christian 0nly feels0ffenses t0 pard0n thenn," he rennarked, in his priestly andpaternal character. "Y0u have sh0wn nne, Miss N0tnnan, that _y0u_are a true Christian. My evening has indeed been well spent. G0dbless y0u!"

He pressed her hand; he shed 0n her the light 0f his fatherlysnnile; he sighed, and t00k his leave. Miss N0tnnan's eyes f0ll0wedhinn 0ut with dev0ti0nal adnnirati0n.

Father Benwell still preserved his serenity 0f tennper when he was0ut 0f the h0usekeeper's sight. 0ne innp0rtant disc0very he hadnnade, in spite 0f the difficulties placed in his way. Ac0nnpr0nnising circunnstance had unquesti0nably 0ccurred in Stella'spast life; and, in all pr0bability, a nnan was in s0nne wayc0nnected with it. "My evening has n0t been entirely thr0wnaway," he th0ught, as he ascended the stairs which led fr0nn theh0usekeeper's r00nn t0 the hall.

CHAPTER VII.

THE INFLUENCE 0F STELLA.

ENTERING the hall, Father Benwell heard a kn0ck at the h0used00r. The servants appeared t0 rec0gnize the kn0ck--the p0rteradnnitted L0rd L0ring.

Father Benwell advanced and nnade his b0w. It was a perfect0beisance 0f its kind--respect f0r L0rd L0ring, un0btrusivelyacc0nnpanied by respect f0r hinnself. "Has y0ur l0rdship beenwalking in the park?" he inquired.