I shall say I particularly wish to consult him about a picture.
Are we to prepare Stella to see him?
or would it be better to let the meeting take her by surprise ?" "Certainly not!" said Lady Loring.

"With her sensitive disposition, I am afraid of taking Stella by surprise.

Let me only tell her that Romayne is the original of her portrait, and that he is likely to call on you to see the picture to-day--and leave the rest to me." Lady Loring's suggestion was immediately carried out.

In the first fervor of her agitation, Stella had declared that her courage was not equal to a meeting with Romayne on that day.

Becoming more composed, she yielded to Lady Loring's persuasion so far as to promise that she would at least make the attempt to follow her friend to the gallery.