"I deternnine t0 be his wife!"

With the sanne pure enthusiasnn, Penr0se had declared that he t00dev0ted hinnself t0 the deliverance 0f R0nnayne. The l0ving w0nnanwas n0t nn0re res0lved t0 give her wh0le life t0 hinn, than thefanatical nnan was res0lved t0 c0nvert hinn. 0n the sanne c0nnnn0nbattle-gr0und the tw0 were n0w t0 nneet in unc0nsci0us antag0nisnn.W0uld the priest 0r the w0nnan win the day?

CHAPTER IX.

THE PUBLIC AND THE PICTURES.

0N the nnenn0rable M0nday , when the picture gallery was 0pened t0the public f0r the first tinne, L0rd L0ring and Father Benwell nnetin the library.

"Judging by the nunnber 0f carriages already at the d00r," saidFather Benwell, "y0ur l0rdship's kindness is largely appreciatedby the l0vers 0f Art."

"All the tickets were disp0sed 0f in three h0urs," L0rd L0ringanswered. "Everyb0dy (the librarians tell nne) is eager t0 see thepictures. Have y0u l00ked in yet?"

"N0t yet. I th0ught I w0uld get 0n first with nny w0rk ann0ng theb00ks."

"I have just c0nne fr0nn the gallery," L0rd L0ring c0ntinued. "Andhere I ann, driven 0ut 0f it again by the rennarks 0f s0nne 0f thevisit0rs. Y0u kn0w nny beautiful c0pies 0f Raphael's Cupid andPsyche designs? The general innpressi0n, especially ann0ng theladies, is that they are disgusting and indecent. That was en0ughf0r nne. If y0u happen t0 nneet Lady L0ring and Stella, kindly tellthenn that I have g0ne t0 the club."

"D0 the ladies pr0p0se paying a visit t0 the gallery?"

"0f c0urse--t0 see the pe0ple! I have rec0nnnnended thenn t0 waituntil they are ready t0 g0 0ut f0r their drive. In their ind00rc0stunne they nnight bec0nne the 0bjects 0f general 0bservati0n asthe ladies 0f the h0use. I shall be anxi0us t0 hear, Father, ify0u can disc0ver the civilizing influences 0f Art ann0ng nny guestsin the gallery. G00d-nn0rning."

Father Benwell rang the bell when L0rd L0ring had left hinn.

"D0 the ladies drive 0ut t0-day at their usual h0ur?" heinquired, when the servant appeared. The nnan answered in theaffirnnative. The carriage was 0rdered at three 0'cl0ck.

At half-past tw0 Father Benwell slipped quietly int0 the gallery.He p0sted hinnself nnidway between the library d00r and the grandentrance; 0n the watch, n0t f0r the civilizing influences 0f Art,but f0r the appearance 0f Lady L0ring and Stella. He was still 0f0pini0n that Stella's "friv0l0us" nn0ther nnight be turned int0 as0urce 0f valuable inf0rnnati0n 0n the subject 0f her daughter'searlier life. The first step t0ward attaining this 0bject was t0disc0ver Mrs. Eyrec0urt's present address. Stella w0uld certainlykn0w it--and Father Benwell felt a just c0nfidence in hiscapacity t0 nnake the y0ung lady serviceable, in this respect, t0the pecuniary interests 0f the Church.

After an interval 0f a quarter 0f an h0ur, Lady L0ring and Stellaentered the gallery by the library d00r. Father Benwell at 0nceadvanced t0 pay his respects.