Yesterday, Mr. Lewis Romayne, of Vange Abbey, was received into the
community of the Holy Catholic Church. I inclose an accurate newspaper
report of the ceremonies which attended the conversion.

Be pleased to inform me, by telegraph, whether our Reverend Fathers wish
me to go on, or not.




BOOK THE FIFTH.



CHAPTER I.

MRS. EYRECO URT'S DISCOVERY.

THE leaves had fallen in the grounds at Ten Acres Lodge, and stormy
winds told drearily that winter had come.

An unchanging dullness pervaded the house. Romayne was constantly absent
in London, attending to his new religious duties under the guidance of
Father Benwell. The litter of books and manuscripts in the study was
seen no more. Hideously rigid order reigned in the unused room. Some of
Romayne's papers had been burned; others were imprisoned in drawers
and cupboards--the history of the Origin of Religions had taken its
melancholy place among the suspended literary enterprises of the time.
Mrs. Eyrecourt (after a superficially cordial reconciliation with
her son-in-law) visited her daughter every now and then, as an act of