The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-03-25

ventured to inquire, in the first place
IL the gentlefolSs upstairs had enjoye,
their dinner. So far, the report was
on the whole, favorable. But the con
versation was described as occasionall,
tagging. The burden Of the talk hat
been mainly borne by my lord and m,
lady, Mr.. Romayne and Miss Eypecour
contributing but little to the social en-
joyment of the evening. Receiving thi,
information without mucn appearance
OF interest, tho housekeeper put anothe,
question, to which, Judging by her man.
ner, she attached q certain importance
She wished to know IL the oyster-ome
lette, accompanying the cheese, had
been received as . welcome dish, and
treated with just recognition Of its
merits. The answer to this was decid
edly in the negative. Mr.. Romaynt
and Miss. Eyrecourt had declined to
taste it. My lord had tried il, and had
left it on his plate. My lady alone had
really eaten her share OF the misplaced
dish. Having stated this apparently
trivial circumstance, the head servant
was surprised by the effect which IL pro-
duced on the housekeeper. She leaned
back In her chair and closed her eyes,
with an appearance OF unutterable en-.
joyment. That night there was one
suprsmely happy woman in London
and her name was Miss hoffman.
Ascending from the housekeeper's
room to the drawing room, IL is to be
further rep orted that music was tried,
as means Of getting through the time
In the absence Of general conversation.
Lady Loring sat down at the piano
and played as admirably as usual. Al
the other end Of the room Romayne and
Stella sat together, listening to the
music. Lord Loring, walking back
ward and forward with restlessness
which was far from being characteristic
Of him in his after-dinner hours, was
stopped when he reached the neighbor-
hood OF the piano by private signal
from his wife.
"Wtat are you walk ing about forT'
Lady Loring asked in q whisper, with.
out interrupting her musical perform
ance.
"I m not quite easy, my dear"
"Turn over the music. Indiges-
tion?"
"Good heavens, Adelaide. what q
question"
"Well, what is it, then?"
Lord Loring looked toward Stella
and her companion.
"They don't seem to get on tog ether
as we'll as I had hoped" he said.
"I should think not-when you are
walking about and disturb ing them
Sit down there behind me-"
"What am I TO dor
"Am I not playing! Listen 10 me-"
"My dear, I don't understand mod
ern German music"
"Then read the evening paper"
The evening paper had its attractions.
Lord Lsvriue toVk MS wlfe-s advice.
Left entirely by themselves, at the
other end of the room, Romayne and
Stella justified Lady Loring's belief in
the result of reducing her husband to q
state OF repose. Stella ventured Il
speak Hrst, in discreet undertone.
"Do you pass most Of your evenings
alone, Mr.. Romayne?"
"Not quite alone. have the com,
pany of my books"
care your books the companion that
you like b,stY'
"I have been true to those compan.
ions, Miss Eyrecourt, for many years.
If the doctors are to be believed. my
books have not treated me very well In
return. They have broken down my
health, and have made me, l am afraid,
Q very unsocial man." He seemed
about to say more. and suddenly checked
the impulse. "Why am I talking oi
myself" he resumed, with smile. 81
never do Il at other times. Is this
another result of your influence over
meT
He put the question with an assumed
gayety. Stella made no effort, on heI
side, to answer him in the same tone.
"I almost wish really had some in
Auence over you," she said, eAvely AND
sadly.
"WhyT
at should try to induce you to shu
up your books, and choose some living
companion who might restore You Il
your happier self"
"It is already done," said Romayne
"I have new companion In Mr.. PEN
rose"
"Peuroser she repeated. "He i
the friend, is he not, of the priest here
whom they call Father Benwell"
"Yes."
at don't like Father Benwell."
"Is that q reason for disliking Mr.
Penrose p
"Yes," she said, boldly, "because h
| Is Father Benwell's friend"
Indeed, you are mistaken. Mis-
Eyrecourt. Mr.. Penrose only entere
yesterday on his duties as my secretary
and 1 have already had reason to thin
highly of him. Many men, after tha
experience Of me-" he added, speakin
more to himself than to her. "migh
have asked me to find another secrs
tAEy."
Stella heard these last words AM
looked at him in astoMshment "Wer,
you angry with Mr.. Penrose p sh'
asked, innocently. "Is II possible tha
you would speak harshly TO any persol
In your employmentr'
Romayns smiled. "It was not what
I said." he answered. "I am subject h