to the past history of
Stella's life.

Reflection convinced him that it would be unwise to attempt, no matter
how guardedly, to obtain the necessary information from Lord Loring
or his wife. If he assumed, at his age, to take a strong interest in
a Protestant young lady, who had notoriously avoided him, they
would certainly feel surprise--and surprise might, in due course of
development, turn to suspicion.

There was but one other person under Lord Loring's roof to whom he could
address himself--and that person was the housekeeper. As an old servant,
possessing Lady Loring's confidence, she might prove a source of
information on the subject of Lady Loring's fair friend; and, as a
good Catholic, she would feel flattered by the notice of the spiritual
director of the household.

"It may not be amiss," thought Father Benwell, "if I try the
housekeeper."

CHAPTER VI.

THE ORDER OF THE DISHES.

WHEN Miss Notman assumed the post of housekeeper in Lady Loring's
service, she was accurately described as "a competent and respectable
person"; and was praised, with perfect truth, for her incorruptible
devotion to the interests of her employers. On its weaker side, her
character was represented by the wearing of a youthful wig, and the
erroneous conviction that she still possessed a fine figure. The ruling
idea in her narrow little mind was the idea of her own dignity.
Any offense offered in this direction oppressed her memory for days
together, and found its way outward in speech to any human being whose
attention she could secure.

At five o'clock, on the day which followed his introduction to Romayne,
Father Benwell sat drinking his coffee in the housekeeper's room--to all
appearance as much at his ease as if he had known Miss Notman from the
remote days of her childhood. A new contribution to the housekeeper's
little library of devotional works lay on the table; and bore silent
witness to the means by which he had made those first advances which had
won him his present position. Miss Notman's sense of dignity was doubly
flattered. She had a priest for her guest, and a new book with the
reverend gentleman's autograph inscribed on the title-page.

"Is your coffee to your liking, Father?"

"A little more sugar, if you please."

Miss Notman was proud of her hand, viewed as one of the meritorious
details of her figure. She took up the sugar-tongs with suavity and
grace; she dropped the sugar into the cup with a yout