CHAPTER V.
FATHER BENWELL MISSES.
THE group before the picture which had been the subject of dispute was broken up. In one part of the gallery, Lady Loring and Stella were whispering together on a sofa. In another part, Lord Loring was speaking privately to Romayne.
“Do you think you will like Mr. Penrose?” his lordship asked.
“Yes—so far as I can tell at present. He seems to be modest and intelligent.”
“You are looking ill, my dear Romayne. Have you again heard the voice that haunts you?”
Romayne answered with evident reluctance. “I don’t know why,” he said—“but the dread of hearing it again has oppressed me all this morning. To tell you the truth, I came here in the hope that the change might relieve me.”
“Has it done so?”
“Yes—thus far.”
“Doesn’t that suggest, my friend, that a greater change might be of use to you?”