"My evening has not been
entirely thrown away," he thought, as he ascended the stairs which led
from the housekeeper's room to the hall.
CHAPTER VII.
THE INFLUENCE OF STELLA.
ENTERING the hall, Father Benwell heard a knock at the house door.
The servants appeared to recognize the knock--the porter admitted Lord
Loring.
Father Benwell advanced and made his bow. It was a perfect obeisance of
its kind--respect for Lord Loring, unobtrusively accompanied by respect
for himself. "Has your lordship been walking in the park?" he inquired.
"I have been out on business," Lord Loring answered; "and I should like
to tell you about it. If you can spare me a few minutes, come into the
library. Some time since," he resumed, when the door was closed, "I
think I mentioned that my friends had been speaking to me on a
subject of some importance--the subject of opening my picture gallery
occasionally to the public."
"I remember," said Father Benwell. "Has your lordship decided what to
do?"
"Yes. I have decided (as the phrase is) to 'go with the times,' and
follow the example of other owners of picture g alleries.
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