The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-07-01

mestic ferocity. Father Benwell sci
you an example of Christian moderation
Do, please, follow it."
Romayne refused to follow il.
"Talk on any other topic that yo
like' Mrs. Eyrecourt. request you
don't oblige me to uso harder word -
request you to spare Father Benwell an
myself any further expression of you
opinion on controversial subjects"
A son-in-law may make request, an,
a mother-in-law may decline to comply
Mrs. Eyrecourt declined to comply.
"No, Romayne, it won't do. 1 ma.
lament your unhappy temper, for m.
daughters sake-but 1 know what I an
about, and you can't provoke me. Ou
reverend friend and / understand eacl
other. He will make allowances for
sensitive woman, who has had sad az
perience OF conversions in her owr
household. My eldest daughter, Fathe,
Benwell-a poor, foolish creature-wa,
converted into a nunnery. Tho las,
time cav her (she used to be sweetIy
pretty; my dear husband quite adored
her)-the last time 1 saw her,
she had red nose, and, what
is even more revolving at her age, q
double chin. She received me with hel
lips pursed up, and her eyes on the
ground, and she was insolent enough to
say that she would pray for me. I am
lot furious old man with long white
beard, and I don't curse my daughter
md rush ont into tn under-storm after.
ward, but I know what King Lear felt,
and 1 have struggled with Mysteries
just as he did. With your wonderful
insight into human nature, / am sure
You will sympathize and forgive me.
Mr.. Penrose, as my daughter tells me,
behaved in tho most gentlemanlike
manner. I make the same appeal to
your kind forbearance. The bare pros.
pect of our dear friend here becoming
q Catholic"
Remayne's temper gave way once
more.
" II anything can make me Cath
olic." he said, "your interference will
do it,"
"Out Of sheer perversity, dear Ro-
mayne?"
"Not at all, Mrs. Eyrecourt. If ]
became Catholic, 1 might escape from
the society of ladies in the refuge Of
Mrs. Eyrecourt hit him back again,
with the rcadiest dexterity.
"Remain Protestant, my dear, and
so to your club. There is refuge for
You from the ladies-a monastery, with
nice little dinners and all the newspa.
pers and periodicals" Having launched
this shaft, she got up, and recovered her
easy courtesy Of look and manner. Il
am SO much obliged to you, Father Ben
we'll. I have not offended you, hope
and trust?'
You have done me service, dea,
Mrs. Eyrecourt. Bnt for your salutary
I might have drifted into con.
troversial subjects. shall be on my
guard now"
How very good of you'll We shall
meet again, I hope, under more agree.
ablo circumstances. Aftor that polite
to monastery, I understand
that my visit to my son-in-law may as
we'll come to an end. Please don't for.
get o'clock tea at my house."
As she approached tho door it was
opened from the outer side. Her
daughter met her halfway.
"Why arc you hero, mamma ?" Stella
asked.
"Why, indeed, my love- You had
better leave the room with me. Our
smiable Romayne's present idea is to
relieve himself of our society by retiring
to monastery. Don't you see Father
Benwell?"
Stella coldly returned the priests bow
and looked ut Romayne. She felt
vague forewarning of what had hap
pened. Mrs. Eyrecourt proceeded to
enlighten her ~ an appropriate express
sion of gratitude. "We arc indeed in.
debted to Father Benwell, my dear.
He has boon most considerate and
kind"
Romayne interrupted her without
ceremony. "Favor me-" he said, ad-
dressing his wife, "by inducing Mrs.
Eyrecourt to continue her narrative in
another room" ls
Stella was scarcely conscious of what
her mother or her husband had said.
She felt that the priests eyes were on
her. Under the spell of those watchful
eyes she trembled inwardly; her Gus
tomary tact deserted her; she made an
indirect apology to the man whom she
hated and feared.
Whatever my mother may have said
to you, Father Benwell. has been with.
out my knowledge" l
Romayne attempted to speak. but
Father Benwell was too quick for him
"Dear Mrs. Romayna, nothing hai
been said which needs any disclaimer
on your part"
"I should think notl" Mrs. Eyre.
court added. "Really, Stella, ] don't
understand you. Why may 1 not say
TO Father Benwell what you said to Mr..
Penrose? You trusted Mr., Penrose as
your friend. l can tell you this-I am
quite sure you may trust Father Ben
we'll"
Once more Romayne attempted to
speak. And once more Father Ben.
we'll was beforehand with him. Z.
"May hope" said the priest, with