The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-03-04

He did 1t SO easily and 30 cheerfully,
that far less patient man than Penrose
would have listened to him with inter
est
CHAPTER uI.--THR INTRODUCTION TO
RoMAYNE.
Excepting my employment here in
the library" Father Benwell began,
"and some interesting conversation
with Lord Loring, to which I shall pre-
sently allude, am almost as great o
stranger in this house, Arthur, as your
self. When the object which we now
have in view was first taken seriously
into consideration, had the honor OF
being personally acquainted with Lord
Loring. l was also aware that he was
an intimate and trusted friend OF
Romayne. Under these circumstances,
his lordship presented himself to our
point OF view as means of approaching
the owner of Vange Abbey without ex-
citing distrust. was charged accord
ingly with the duty of establishing my.
self on terms OF intimacy in thi1 house.
p. wa, OF making room for me, the
pa'i II 4 director of Lord and Lady
lpi.lt ci~ attached, in some inferior
r.r,city, 10 q mission abroad. And
nero L nm in this place by the way,
don't treat me (when We ara in the pres
snce Of visitors) with any special marks
IF respect. an not provincial of our
orler in Lord Loring's house-T am one
Of the inferior clergy"
Penrose looked at him with admira.
ton. II is great sacrifice to make,
Father, in your position, and Mt your
sqe"
"Not at all, Arthur. A position OF
authority involves certain temptations to
pride. feel this change as lesson in
humility which is good for me. For
example, Lady Loring (as can plainly
see) dislilSes and distrusts me. Then,
again, Young lady has recently arrived
here on visit. She is a Protestant,
aud avoids me 80 carefully, poor soul,
that have never seen her yet. These
robutis are wholesome reminders OF his
fallible human nature to man who has
occupied n place OF high trust aud COM
mand. Besides, there have been OBJ
staclos in my way which havo had an
excellent effect in rousing my energies.
How 10 ron feel, Arthur, when yop
encounter Obstacles?
"I 10 my best to remove them, Father.
But l am sometimes conscious Of p
sense OF discoumgement."
"Curious,' said Father Benwell, 81
am only conscious, myself, of sense OF
impatience. What right has an obstacle
to get in my way?-tha is how I look
at 1t. For example, the first thing
heard, when L came here. was that
Romayne had left England. My intro
duction to him was indefinitely delayed;
1 had to look to Lord L7ring for all the
information I wanted, relating to the
man and his habits. There vas an.
other obstacle Not living in the house.
was obliged to find an excuse for bo
ing constantly on the spot, ready tc
take advantage of his loriship's leisure
moments for conversation. I sat dow
in this room, and said 70 myself, Be
fore I get up again, mean to brusl
these impertinent obstacles out of IL,
wayp The state OF the books s;lggesta,
the idea of which was in search. BE
fore left tho house I was charge,
with the re-arrangement OF the library
From that moment came and went .
often as liked. Whenever Lord Lor
ing was disposed for little talk, ther'
I was, to lead the talk In the right direc
tion. And what is the result? On tn
first occasion when Romayne presents
himself / can place you in a position
to become his daily companion. Al
due, Arthur. in the first instance, to m,
impationoe OF obstacles. Amusing
isn't il ?"
Penrose was perhaps deficient in tn
: sense of humor. Instead of beinI
amused he appeared to be anxious fc
: more information. "In what capacit
am to be Mr. Romsyne's companion
he asked.
Father Benwell poured himself ou
another cup OF coffee.
Suppose I tell you. FIRST he sugges
ed, show Romayne is marked out. b
habits and disposition, as promisin
a subject for conversion. He is young
still a single man; romantic, sensitiv,
highly cultivated. No near relation
are alive to influence him--he is con
! promised by any illicit attachmen
He has devoted himself for years pa
to books, and is collecting materials Il
) Q work of immense research on tt
Origin ef Religion. Some great sorro
, or remorse--Lord Loring did not mel
ton what 1t was-has told seriously @
! his nervous system, already injured /
night study. Add to this. that he is no
within our reach. He has lately returne
to London, and is living quite slsne |
sprivate hotel. For some reason who
l am not acquainted with he keer
away from Vange Abbey--ths vel
place, as 1 should have thought, for
st''sinus man"