Whether they have resisted the contaminating influence of the head of the household--or whether poverty and bad example combined have hopelessly degraded them--I cannot say.There is at least a doubt whether they are worthy of Mr.Romayne's benevolent intentions toward them.As an honest man, I cannot feel this doubt, and reconcile it to my conscience to be the means, however indirectly, of introducing them to Mr.Romayne.To your discretion I leave it to act for the best, after this warning."Lord Loring returned the letter to Major Hynd."I agree with you," he said."It is more than doubtful whether you ought to communicate this information to Romayne."Lady Loring was not quite of her husband's opinion."While there is a doubt about these people," she said, "it seems only just to find out what sort of character they bear in the neighborhood.In your place, Major Hynd, I should apply to the person in whose house they live, or to the tradespeople whom they have employed.""I am obliged to leave London again to-day," the Major replied;"but on my return I will certainly follow your ladyship's advice.""And you will let us know the result?"
"With the greatest pleasure."
Major Hynd took his leave."I think you will be responsible for wasting the Major's time," said Lord Loring, when the visitor had retired.
"I think not," said Lady Loring.
She rose to leave the room."Are you going out?" her husband asked.
"No.I am going upstairs to Stella."
Lady Loring found Miss Eyrecourt in her own room.The little portrait of Romayne which she had drawn from recollection lay on the table before her.She was examining it with the closest attention.
"Well, Stella, and what does the portrait tell you?""What I knew before, Adelaide.There is nothing false and nothing cruel in that face.""And does the discovery satisfy you? For my part, I despise Romayne for hiding himself from us.Can you excuse him?"Stella locked up the portrait in her writing-case."I can wait,"she said quietlyThi s assertion of patience seemed to irritate Lady Loring "What is the matter with you this morning?" she asked."You are more reserved than ever.""No; I am only out of spirits, Adelaide.I can't help thinking of that meeting with Winterfield.I feel as if some misfortune was hanging over my head.""Don't speak of that hateful man!" her ladyship exclaimed."Ihave something to tell you about Romayne.Are you completely absorbed in your presentiments of evil? or do you think you can listen to me?"Stella's face answered for her.Lady Loring described the interview with Major Hynd in the minutest detail--including, by way of illustration, the Major's manners and personal appearance.
"He and Lord Loring," she added, "both think that Romayne will never hear the last of it if he allows these foreigners to look to him for money.Until something more is known about them, the letter is not to be forwarded.""I wish I had the letter," cried Stella.
"Would you forward it to Romayne?"
"Instantly! Does it matter whether these poor French people are worthy of his generosity? If it restores his tranquillity to help them, who cares whether they deserve the help? They are not even to know who it is that assists them--Romayne is to be their unknown friend.It is he, not they, whom we have to think of--his peace of mind is everything; their merit is nothing.I say it's cruel to _him_ to keep him in ignorance of what has happened.Why didn't you take the letter away from Major Hynd?""Gently, Stella! The Major is going to make inquiries about the widow and children when he returns to London.""When he returns!" Stella repeated indignantly."Who knows what the poor wretches may be suffering in the interval, and what Romayne may feel if he ever hears of it? Tell me the address again--it was somewhere in Islington, you said.""Why do you want to know it?" Lady Loring asked."You are not going to write to Romayne yourself?""I am going to think, before I do anything.If you can't trust my discretion, Adelaide, you have only to say so!"It was spoken sharply.Lady Loring's reply betrayed a certain loss of temper on her side."Manage your own affairs, Stella--Ihave done meddling with them." Her unlucky visit to Romayne at the hotel had been a subject of dispute between the two friends--and this referred to it."You shall have the address,"my lady added in her grandest manner.She wrote it on a piece of paper, and left the room.
Easily irritated, Lady Loring had the merit of being easily appeased.That meanest of all vices, the vice of sulkiness, had no existence in her nature.In five minutes she regretted her little outburst of irritability.For five minutes more she waited, on the chance that Stella might be the first to seek a reconciliation.The interval passed, and nothing happened."Have I really offended her?" Lady Loring asked herself.The next moment she was on her way back to Stella.The room was empty.She rang the bell for the maid.
"Where is Miss Eyrecourt?"
"Gone out, my lady."
"Did she leave no message?"
"No, my lady.She went away in a great hurry."Lady Loring at once drew the conclusion that Stella had rashly taken the affair of the General's family into her own hands.Was it possible to say how this most imprudent proceeding might end?
After hesitating and reflecting, and hesitating again, Lady Loring's anxiety got beyond her control.She not only decided on following Stella, but, in the excess of her nervous apprehension, she took one of the men-servants with her, in case of emergency!