Suddenly something pathetic about her touched me. She is such a gallant little fighter. She has had such an ugly cruel life, and Oh! God she is growing to love me, and soon shall I be able to tell her that I worship the ground she walks on, and appreciate her proud spirit and great self-respect? But I cannot chance anything. I must go on and follow what I know to be sound psychological reasoning. I felt my will weakening then, she looked so perfectly exquisite there in the corner of the sofa. We were alone.--It was nearly ten o'clock at night, the flowers were scenting the air, the lights were soft, the dinner had been perfection. After all I am a man, and she legally belongs to me. I felt the blood rushing wildly in my veins. I had to clench my hands and shut my eye. "I expect you are tired now," I said a little breathlessly. "So I will say good-night--Milady, and hope that you will sleep well the first night in your new home." I got up and she came forward quickly to hand me my crutch. "Good-night," she whispered quite low, but she never looked at me, then she turned and went slowly from the room, never glancing back. And when she had gone instead of going to bed I once more sank into my chair. I felt queerly faint, my nerves are not sound yet I expect. Well, what a strange wedding night! Burton's face was a mask when he came to undress me. Among the many strange scenes he has witnessed and assisted at, after forty years spent in ministering to the caprices of the aristocracy, I believe he thinks this is the strangest! When I was in bed and he was about to go, I suddenly went into a peal of bitter laughter. He stopped near the door. "Beg pardon, Sir Nicholas?" he said as though I had called to him. "Aren't women the weirdest things in the world, Burton!" "They are indeed, Sir Nicholas," and he smiled. "One and all, from Mam'zelle to ladies like her Ladyship, they do like to feel that a man belongs to themselves." "You think that is it, Burton?" "Not a doubt of it, Sir Nicholas." "How do you know them so well, never having married, you old scallywag!" "Perhaps that's why, Sir. A married man looses his spirit like--and his being able to see!" "I seem lonely, don't I Burton," and I laughed again. "You do, Sir Nicholas, but if I may make so bold as to say so, I don't think you will be so very long. Her Ladyship sent out for a cup of tea directly she got to her room." And with an indescribable look of blank innocence in his dear old eyes, this philosopher, and profound student of women, respectfully left the room! XXIV The day after my marriage I did not come into the salon until just before luncheon, at half-past twelve o'clock. My bride was not there. "Her Ladyship has gone out walking, Sir Nicholas," Burton informed me as he settled me in my chair.