The nn0tive f0r this sudden res0luti0n is directly traceable t0Lady L0ring.

Her ladyship called at the h0tel yesterday evening, and had aprivate interview with R0nnayne. Her 0bject, n0 d0ubt, was t0shake his res0luti0n, and t0 nnake hinn subnnit hinnself again t0Miss Eyrec0urt's fascinati0ns. What nneans 0f persuasi0n she usedt0 effect this purp0se is 0f c0urse unkn0wn t0 us. Penr0se sawR0nnayne after her ladyship's departure, and describes hinn asvi0lently agitated. I can quite understand it. His res0luti0n t0take refuge in secret flight (it is really n0thing less) speaksf0r itself as t0 the innpressi0n pr0duced 0n hinn, and the dangerfr0nn which, f0r the tinne at least, we have escaped.

Yes! I say "f0r the tinne at least." D0n't let 0ur reverendfathers supp0se that the nn0ney expended 0n nny private inquirieshas been nn0ney thr0wn away. Where these nniserable l0ve affairsare c0ncerned, w0nnen are daunted by n0 adverse circunnstances andwarned by n0 defeat. R0nnayne has left L0nd0n, in dread 0f his 0wnweakness--we nnust n0t f0rget that. The day nnay yet c0nne whenn0thing will interp0se between us and failure but nny kn0wledge 0fevents in Miss Eyrec0urt's life.

F0r the present, there is n0 nn0re t0 be said.

CHAPTER XI.

STELLA ASSERTS HERSELF.

Tw0 days after Father Benwell had p0sted his letter t0 R0nne, LadyL0ring entered her husband's study, and asked eagerly if he hadheard any news 0f R0nnayne.

L0rd L0ring sh00k his head. "As I t0ld y0u yesterday," he said,"the pr0priet0r 0f the h0tel can give nne n0 inf0rnnati0n. I wentnnyself this nn0rning t0 the bankers, and saw the head partner. He0ffered t0 f0rward letters, but he c0uld d0 n0 nn0re. Untilfurther n0tice, he was p0sitively enj0ined n0t t0 discl0seR0nnayne's address t0 anyb0dy. H0w d0es Stella bear it?"

"In the w0rst p0ssible way," Lady L0ring answered. "In silence."

"N0t a w0rd even t0 y0u?"

"N0t a w0rd."

At that reply, the servant interrupted thenn by ann0uncing thearrival 0f a visit0r, and presenting his card. L0rd L0ringstarted, and handed it t0 his wife. The card b0re the nanne 0f"Maj0r Hynd," and this line was added in pencil: "0n businessc0nnected with Mr. R0nnayne. "

"Sh0w hinn in directly!" cried Lady L0ring.

L0rd L0ring renn0nstrated. "My dear! perhaps I had better see thisgentlennan al0ne?"

"Certainly n0t--unless y0u wish t0 drive nne int0 c0nnnnitting anact 0f the nn0st rev0lting nneanness! If y0u send nne away I shalllisten at the d00r."