n."

Penrose began to be interested. "Have you been to the Abbey?" he said.

"I made a little excursion to that part of Yorkshire, Arthur, not
long since. A very pleasant trip--apart from the painful associations
connected with the ruin and profanation of a sacred place. There is no
doubt about the revenues. I know the value of that productive part of
the estate which stretches southward, away from the barren region round
the house. Let us return for a moment to Romayne, and to your position
as his future companion. He has had his books sent to him from Vange,
and has persuaded himself that continued study is the one remedy for
his troubles, whatever they may be. At Lord Loring's suggestion, a
consultation of physicians was held on his case the other day."

"Is he so ill as that?" Penrose exclaimed.

"So it appears," Father Benwell replied. "Lord Loring is mysteriously
silent about the illness. One result of the consultation I extracted
from him, in which you are interested. The doctors protested against his
employing himself on his proposed work. He was too obstinate to listen
to them. There was but one concession that they could gain from him--he
consented to spare himself, in some small degree, by employing an
amanuensis. It was left to Lord Loring to find the man. I was consulted
by his lordship; I was even invited to undertake the duty myself. Each
one in his proper sphere, my son! The person who converts Romayne must
be young enough and pliable enough to be his friend and companion.
Your part is there, Arthur--you are the future amanuensis. How does the
prospect strike you now?"

"I beg your pardon, Father! I fear I am unworthy of the confidence which
is placed in me."

"In what way?"

Penrose answered with unfeigned humility.

"I am afraid I may fail to justify your belief in me," he said, "unless
I can really feel that I am converting Mr. Romayne for his own soul's
sake. However righteous the cause may be, I cannot find, in the
restitution of the Church property, a sufficient motive for persuading
him to change his religious faith. There is something so serious in the
responsibility which you lay on me, that I shall sink under the burden
unless my whole heart is in the work. If I feel attracted toward Mr.
Romayne when I first see him; if he wins upon me, little by little,
until I love him like a brother--then, indeed, I can promise that his
conversion shall be the dearest object of my life. But if there