Then as a bell warned them away, the rivals kissed
each other tenderly, and parted friends. As Mrs.
Snowdon entered her room, she saw her husband sitting
with his gray head in his hands, and heard him murmur
despairingly to himself, “My life makes her miserable.
But for the sin of it I’d die to free her.”
“No, live for me, and teach me to be happy in
your love.” The clear voice startled him,
but not so much as the beautiful changed face of the
wife who laid the gray head on her bosom, saying tenderly,
“My kind and patient husband, you have been
deceived. From me you shall know all the truth,
and when you have forgiven my faulty past, you shall
see how happy I will try to make your future.”
A GHOSTLY REVEL
“Bless me, how dull we are tonight!” exclaimed
Rose, as the younger portion of the party wandered
listlessly about the drawing rooms that evening, while
my lady and the major played an absorbing game of piquet,
and the general dozed peacefully at last.
“It is because Maurice is not here; he always
keeps us going, for he is a fellow of infinite resources,”
replied Sir Jasper, suppressing a yawn.
“Have him out then,” said Annon.
“He won’t come. The poor lad is blue
tonight, in spite of his improvement. Something
is amiss, and there is no getting a word from him.”
“Sad memories afflict him, perhaps,” sighed
Blanche.
“Don’t be absurd, dear, sad memories are
all nonsense; melancholy is always indigestion, and
nothing is so sure a cure as fun,” said Rose
briskly. “I’m going to send in a polite
invitation begging him to come and amuse us.
He’ll accept, I haven’t a doubt.”
The message was sent, but to Rose’s chagrin
a polite refusal was returned.
“He shall come. Sir Jasper, do you
and Mr. Annon go as a deputation from us, and return
without him at your peril” was her command.
They went, and while waiting their reappearance the
sisters spoke of what all had observed.
“How lovely Mrs. Snowdon looks tonight.
I always thought she owed half her charms to her skill
in dress, but she never looked so beautiful as in
that plain black silk, with those roses in her hair,”
said Rose.
“What has she done to herself?” replied
Blanche. “I see a change, but can’t
account for it. She and Tavie have made some beautifying
discovery, for both look altogether uplifted and angelic
all of a sudden.”
“Here come the gentlemen, and, as I’m
a Talbot, they haven’t got him!” cried
Rose as the deputation appeared, looking very crestfallen.
“Don’t come near me,” she added,
irefully, “you are disloyal cowards, and I doom
you to exile till I want you. I am infinite
in resources as well as this recreant man, and come
he shall. Mrs. Snowdon, would you mind asking
Mr. Treherne to suggest something to wile away the
rest of this evening? We are in despair, and
can think of nothing, and you are all-powerful with
him.”
