England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
"How did you find out where I live?" says he. "Oh, you're ashamed of
me?" says she. "Mr. Helmsley was with us yesterday evening. That's how I
found out!" "What do you mean?" "I mean that Mr. Helmsley had your card
and address in his pocket. Ah, you were obliged to give your address
when you had to clear up that matter of the bracelet! You cruel,
cruel man, what have I done to deserve such a note as you sent me this
morning?" "Do what the note tells you!" "Do what the note tells me?
Did anybody ever hear a man talk so, out of a lunatic asylum? Why,
you haven't even the grace to carry out your own wicked deception--you
haven't even gone to bed!" There the voices grew less angry, and
we missed what followed. Soon the lady burst out again, piteously
entreating him this time. "Oh, Marmy, don't ruin me! Has anybody
offended you? Is there anything you wish to have altered? Do you want
more money? It is too cruel to treat me in this way--it is indeed!" He
made some answer, which we were not able to hear; we could only suppose
that he had upset her temper again. She went on louder than ever "I've
begged and prayed of you--and you're as hard as iron. I've told you
about the Prince--and _that_ has had no effect on you. I have done now.
We'll see what the doctor says." He got angry, in his turn; we heard him
again. "I won't see the doctor!" "Oh, you refuse to see the doctor?--I
shall make your refusal known--and if there's law in England, you shall
feel it!" Their voices dropped again; some new turn seemed to be taken
by the conversation. We heard the lady once more, shrill and joyful this
time. "There's a dear! You see it, don't you, in the right light? And
you haven't forgotten the old times, have you? You're the same dear,
honorable, kind-hearted fellow that you always were!"
I caught hold of Felicia, and put my hand over her mouth.
There was a sound in the next room which might have been--I cannot be
certain--the sound of a kiss. The next moment, we heard the door of the
room unlocked. Then the door of the house was opened, and the noise
of retreating carriage-wheels followed. We met him in the hall, as he
entered the house again.
My daughter walked up to him, pale and determined.
"I insist on knowing who that woman is, and what she wants here." Those
were her first words. He looked at her like a man in utter confusion.
"Wait till this evening; I am in no state to speak to you now!" With
that, he snatched his hat off the hall table and rushed out of the
house.
It is little more than three weeks since they returned to London from
their happy wedding-tour--and it has come to this!
The clock has just struck seven; a letter has been left by a messenger,
addressed to my daughter. I had persuaded her, poor soul, to lie down
in her own room. God grant that the letter may bring her some tidings of
her husband! I please myself in the hope of hearing good news.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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