It is that the empty longing and daily prayer may be filled, and filled, and filled again, like a cup from a stream which never ceases." "And what is that daily prayer ?" asked Morris, looking at her.
"O! God, touch me with Thy light, and give me understanding--yes, understanding--the word encloses all I seek," she replied, then, checking herself, added in a changed voice, "Come, let us go home; it is foolish to talk long of such things." Shortly after this curious conversation, which was never renewed between them, or, at least, but once, a new element entered into the drama, the necessary semi-comic element without which everything would be so dull.
This fresh factor was the infatuation, which possibly the reader may have foreseen, of the susceptible, impulsive little man, Stephen Layard, for Stella Fregelius, the lady whose singing he had admired, and who had been a cause of war between him and his sister.

Like many weak men, Stephen Layard was obstinate, also from boyhood up he had suffered much at the hands of Eliza, who was not, in fact, quite so young as she looked.

Hence there arose in his breast a very natural desire for retaliation.

Eliza had taken a violent dislike to Miss Fregelius, whom he thought charming.

This circumstance in their strained relations was reason enough to induce Stephen to pay court to her, even if his natural inclination had not made the adventure very congenial.
Therefore, on the first opportunity he called at the Abbey to ask after the rector, to be, as he had hoped, received by Stella.