same common battle-ground the two were
now to meet in unconscious antagonism. Would the priest or the woman win
the day?

CHAPTER IX.

THE PUBLIC AND THE PICTURES.

ON the memorable Monday, when the picture gallery was opened to the
public for the first time, Lord Loring and Father Benwell met in the
library.

"Judging by the number of carriages already at the door," said Father
Benwell, "your lordship's kindness is largely appreciated by the lovers
of Art."

"All the tickets were disposed of in three hours," Lord Loring answered.
"Everybody (the librarians tell me) is eager to see the pictures. Have
you looked in yet?"

"Not yet. I thought I would get on first with my work among the books."

"I have just come from the gallery," Lord Loring continued. "And here I
am, driven out of it again by the remarks of some of the visitors. You
know my beautiful copies of Raphael's Cupid and Psyche designs? The
general impression, especially among the ladies, is that they are
disgusting and indecent. That was enough for me. If you happen to meet
Lady Loring and Stella, kindly tell them that I have gone to the club."

"Do the ladies propose paying a visit to the gallery?"

"Of course--to see the people! I have recommended them to wait until
they are ready to go out for their drive. In their indoor costume they
might become the objects of general observation as the ladies of the
house. I shall be anxious to hear, Father, if you can discover
the civilizing influences of Art among my guests in the gallery.
Good-morning."

Father Benwell rang the bell when Lord Loring had left him.

"Do the ladies drive out to-day at their usual hour?" he inquired, when
the servant appeared. The man answered in the affirmative. The carriage
was ordered at three o'clock.

At half-past two Father Benwell slipped quietly into the gallery. He
posted himself midway between the library door and the grand entrance;
on the watch, not for the civilizing influences of Art, but for the
appearance of Lady Loring and Stella. He was still of opinion that
Stella's "frivolous" mother might be turned into a source of valuable
information on the subject of her daughter's earlier life. The first
step toward attaining this object was to discover Mrs. Eyrecourt's
present address. Stella would certainly know it--and Father Benwell felt
a just confidence in his capacity to make the young lady serviceable, in
this respect, to the pecuniary interests of the