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She felt for Stella, with a woman's enthusiastic devotion to the
interests of true love; and she had firmly resolved that a matter so
trifling as the cultivation of Romayne's mind should not be allowed to
stand in the way of the far more important enterprise of opening his
heart to the influence of the sex.
"Stay and lunch with us," she said, when he held out his hand to bid her
good-by.
"Thank you, Lady Loring, I never take lunch."
"Well, then, come and dine with us--no party; only ourselves. Tomorrow,
and next day, we are disengaged. Which day shall it be?"
Romayne still resisted. "You are very kind. In my state of health, I am
unwilling to make engagements which I may not be able to keep."
Lady Loring was just as resolute on her side. She appealed to Stella.
"Mr. Romayne persists, my dear, in putting me off with excuses. Try if
you can persuade him."
"_I_ am not likely to have any influence, Adelaide."
The tone in which she replied struck Romayne. He looked at her. Her
eyes, gravely meeting his eyes, held him with a strange fascination.


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