He thought a good deal about it on that evening, and was still thinking about it on the following morning.  He had promised to go up to Curzon Street on the Monday really on some most trivial mission, on a matter of business which no man could have taken in hand whose time was of the slightest value to himself or any one else.  But now that mission assumed an importance in his eyes, and seemed to require either a special observance or a special excuse.  There was no real reason why he should not have stayed away from Curzon Street for the next fortnight; and had he done so he need have made no excuse to Mrs Trevelyan when he met her.  But the opportunity for a little excitement was not to be missed, and instead of going he wrote to her the following note: 

’Albany, Monday.

Dear Emily,

What was it all about yesterday?  I was to have come up with the words of that opera, but perhaps it will be better to send it.  If it be not wicked, do tell me whether I am to consider myself as a banished man.  I thought that our little meetings were so innocent and so pleasant!  The green-eyed monster is of all monsters the most monstrous and the most unreasonable.  Pray let me have a line, if it be not forbidden.

Yours always heartily,

F. O.

’Putting aside all joking, I beg you to remember that I consider myself always entitled to be regarded by you as your most sincere friend.’

When this was brought to Mrs Trevelyan, about twelve o’clock in the day, she had already undergone the infliction of those words of wisdom which her husband had prepared for her, and which were threatened at the close of the last chapter.  Her husband had come up to her while she was yet in her bed-room, and had striven hard to prevail against her.  But his success had been very doubtful.  In regard to the number of words, Mrs Trevelyan certainly had had the best of it.  As far as any understanding one of another was concerned, the conversation had been useless.  She believed herself to be injured and aggrieved, and would continue so to assert, let him implore her to listen to him as loudly as he might.  ‘Yes I will listen, and I will obey you,’ she had said, ’but I will not endure such insults without telling you that I feel them.’  Then he had left her fully conscious that he had failed, and went forth out of his house into the City, to his club, to wander about the streets, not knowing what he had best do to bring back that state of tranquillity at home which he felt to be so desirable.

Mrs Trevelyan was alone when Colonel Osborne’s note was brought to her, and was at that moment struggling with herself in anger against her husband.  If he laid any command upon her, she would execute it; but she would never cease to tell him that he had ill-used her.  She would din it into his ears, let him come to her as often as he might with his wise words.  Wise words!