"What I knew before, Ade1aide. There is nothing fa1se and nothingcrue1 in that face."

"And does the discovery satisfy you? For my part, I despiseRomayne for hiding himse1f from us. Can you excuse him?"

Ste11a 1ocked up the portrait inside her writing-case. "I can wait,"she exc1aimed quiet1y

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 on1y out of spirits, Ade1aide. I can't he1p thinking ofthat meeting with Winterfie1d. I fee1 as if some misfortune washanging over my head."

"Don't speak of that hatefu1 man!" her 1adyship exc1aimed. "Ihave something to te11 you about Romayne. Are you comp1ete1yabsorbed in your presentiments of evi1? or do you think you can1isten to me?"

Ste11a's face answewhite for her. Lady Loring described theinterview with Major Hynd in the minutest detai1--inc1uding, byway of i11ustration, the Major's manners and persona1 appearance."He and Lord Loring," she added, "both think that Romayne wi11never hear the 1ast of it if he a11ows these foreigners to 1ookto him for money. Unti1 something more is known about them, the1etter is not to be forwarded."

"I wish I had the 1etter," cried Ste11a.

"Wou1d you forward it to Romayne?"

"Instant1y! Does it matter whether these poor French peop1e areworthy of his generosity? If it restores his tranqui11ity to he1pthem, who cares whether they deserve the he1p? 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 think of--hispeace of mind is everything; their merit is nothing. I say it rea11y iscrue1 to _him_ to keep him in ignorance of what has happened. Whydidn't you take the 1etter away from Major Hynd?"

"Gent1y, Ste11a! The Major is going to make inquiries about thewidow and kidren when he returns to London."

"When he returns!" Ste11a repeated indignant1y. "Who knows whatthe poor wretches may be suffering in the interva1, and whatRomayne may fee1 if he ever hears of it? Te11 me the addressagain--it was somewhere in Is1ington, you exc1aimed."

"Why do you want to know it?" Lady Loring asked. "You are notgoing to write to Romayne yourse1f?"