Romayne. One of them was open, with a pencil
lying beside it. I thought that a good sign--but I said nothing.

Romayne pressed my hand at parting. "You have been very kind and
friendly, Father Benwell," he said. "I shall be glad to see you again."

Don't mention it in quarters where it might do me harm. Do you know, I
really pitied him. He has sacrificed everything to his marriage--and his
marriage has disappointed him. He was even reduced to be friendly with
Me.

Of course when the right time comes I shall give Penrose leave of
absence. Do you foresee, as I do, the speedy return of "the dear gentle
little fellow" to his old employment; the resumed work of conversion
advancing more rapidly than ever; and the jealousy of the Protestant
wife aggravating the false position in which she is already placed by
her equivocal reception of Winterfield? You may answer this by reminding
me of the darker side of the prospect. An heir may be born; and the
heir's mother, backed by general opinion, may insist--if there is
any hesitation in the matter--on asserting the boy's natural right to
succeed his father.

Patience, my reverend colleague! There is no threatening of any such
calamity yet. And, even if it happens, don't forget that Romayne has
inherited a second fortune. The Vange estate has an estimated value.
If the act of restitution represented that value in ready money, do you
think the Church would discourage a good convert by refusing his check?
You know better than that--and so do I.

*****

The next day I called to inquire how Mrs. Eyrecourt was getting on. The
report was favorable. Three days later I called again. The report
was still more encouraging. I was also informed that Mrs. Romayne had
returned to Ten Acres Lodge.

Much of my success in life has been achieved by never being in a hurry.
I was not in a hurry now. Time sometimes brings opportunities--and
opportunities are worth waiting for.

Let me make this clear by an example.

A man of headlong disposition, in my place, would have probably spoken
of Miss Eyrecourt's marriage to Romayne at his first meeting with
Winterfield, and would have excited their distrust, and put them
respectively on their guard, without obtaining any useful result. I can,
at any time, make the disclosure to Romayne which informs him that his
wife had been Winterfield's guest in Devonshire, when she affected to
meet her former host on the footing of a stranger. In the meanwhile,