England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
The emotions of sorrow and indignation caused by this discovery so
absorbed me that I failed to notice an attempt the driver made to pass
through, where the crowd seemed to be thinner, until the offended people
resented the proceeding. Some of them seized the horse's head; others
were on the point of pulling the driver off his box, when providentially
the police interfered. Under their protection, we drew back, and reached
our destination in safety, by another way. I record this otherwise
unimportant affair, because it grieved and revolted me (when I thought
of the people's souls), and so indisposed my mind to take cheerful views
of anything. Under these circumstances, I would fain hope that I have
exaggerated the true state of the case, in respect to my daughter's
married life.
My good girl almost smothered me with kisses. When I at last got a fair
opportunity of observing her, I thought her looking pale and worn and
anxious. Query: Should I have arrived at this conclusion if I had met
with no example of the wicked dissipations of London, and if I had
ridden at my ease in a comfortable vehicle?
They had a succulent meal ready for me, and, what I call, fair enough
whisky out of Scotland. Here again I remarked that Felicia ate very
little, and Marmaduke nothing at all. He drank wine, too--and, good
heavens, champagne wine!--a needless waste of money surely when there
was whisky on the table. My appetite being satisfied, my son-in-law went
out of the room, and returned with his hat in his hand. "You and Felicia
have many things to talk about on your first evening together. I'll
leave you for a while--I shall only be in the way." So he spoke. It was
in vain that his wife and I assured him he was not in the way at all. He
kissed his hand, and smiled pleasantly, and left us.
"There, father!" says Felicia. "For the last ten days he has gone
out like that, and left me alone for the whole evening. When we first
returned from Switzerland, he left me in the same mysterious way, only
it was after breakfast then. Now he stays at home in the daytime, and
goes out at night."
I inquired if she had not summoned him to give her some explanation.
"I don't know what to make of his explanation," says Felicia. "When he
went away in the daytime, he told me he had business in the City. Since
he took to going out at night, he says he goes to his club."
"Have you asked where his club is, my dear?"
"He says it's in Pall Mall. There are dozens of clubs in that
street--and he has never told me the name of _his_ club. I am completely
shut out of his confidence. Would you believe it, father? he has not
introduced one of his friends to me since we came home. I doubt if they
know where he lives, since he took this house."
What could I say?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account