.

Taking his hand, she said: "Penloe, this is my mother, Mrs. Wheelwright;
my name is Stella."

With the same grace and ease did he welcome Mrs. Wheelwright, and the
two ladies had not sat in his library more than five minutes before they
felt as if they had known Penloe all their lives, and they seemed to
have a consciousness as if Penloe had known them always. And as wave
after wave of thought came to their minds, Penloe met it and gave them
just what information and truth each one needed in chaste and polished
language; and yet there was no effort at studied phrases on his part,
for it was his natural mode of expression. When talking on certain
subjects and to an interested listener, his discourse seemed like a
string of sapphires, diamonds, pearls, and rubies.

Stella and her mother had sat there looking into those deep, luminous,
spiritual orbs, while the conversationalist was interesting them, so
that two hours had flown before they thought an hour had passed.

As they were about to leave Penloe saw Stella's longing, wistful eyes
glancing over the rows of books. He anticipated the wish by saying:
"Stella, any book or books you see here you are at liberty to take
home."

If Penloe had made her a present of a thousand dollars in actual gold
coin, she could not have felt as grateful as she did when he gave her
the use of his whole library. It was like pouring water on thirsty land.
Stella was thirsting for information on so many subjects, and now her
wish was gratified. She had the opportunity of getting the reading
matter she longed for so much, but did not have the means to purchase.
And, above all, when Penloe told her he would be pleased to help her in
any line of thought she might wish to investigate, it seemed to her as
if her happiness was complete. Her eyes and her hand expressed it all on
taking leave of Penloe.

The ladies said little in going home. It seemed mutually understood that
they would not give expression to their thoughts till they were home and
sitting together in the evening.

When Stella entered the house she had in her possession three of
Penloe's books. One was "Macomber's Oriental Customs," another "Woman's
Freedom in Tiestan" by Burnette, and the third was "Woman's Bondages" by
Stuart.

After supper was over and the dishes washed and put away, Stella and her
mother sat down and Stella said somewhat abruptly: "Mother, sometimes I
wish I had never seen Penloe." Her mother was not v