Capricious Caroline

home very lat

she had gone to the play, and lastly she had gone back to supper at the house of a certain woman

ired, depressed, and yet con

d been alone, and the conversation had so tended that had he been prepared to bring forward the subj

meet the black moment that had haunted her in anticipation ever since

ently he was still unaware that he ha

n life when such a man is close to one." She smiled faintly. "If Agnes Brenton could hear me," she said to herself, "I suppose she would think that I was a little madder than usual, since I fought her the other day when she was trying to say this very same thing about Sammy. But, then, I should be sorry to be obliged to let Agnes understand why I seem to encourage this m

gathered them together without looking at them, tu

to be doing little menial duties. But Camilla was very thoughtful in lo

as still burning in the grate,

e big easy-chair i

she was ripe for remorse, for self-recrimination. And now it seemed to her overstrained nerv

t, "he can know nothing. If he had, he must have let me realize this in some way or other. We have been so much together. I have wanted to be with him as much as I could, just on purpose to watch him! And if he does

raw off her long gloves slowly. As she did so a little scrap of paper fell from the palm of

s sharply into the old

an't I play like other people do? I shall have to settle this to-morrow. Ena

cattered on the ground. As she stooped and pic

bills, with the exception of one that was addressed

m Colonel Lancing,

rap, and stood deliberating with the letter unopened in her hand. Then with a s

, hard characters had an accusing tone about i

, uncompromisingly the writer put before her his knowledge of all tho

ances, her gambling, her friends, and her fol

chance of defence; and her sentence was

had made her since his son's death was taken f

Here there will be permitted no reckless folly, no sinful waste; none of those things that have brought you to where you are. You will be given a place with my daughters, because you are the children's mother, and for no other reason; your life will be ordered entirely by me, and in accordance with what I hold to be

od like one

ed from her hand a

ight that was placed above her lon

this moment. She was like a woman blan

she had quickly taught herself to think about them as little as possible. Her dependence only angered her when it had seemed to demand something of her. Even now it was not the hurt to herself that sent t

urned to the door in a hunted way, as though she could fashion out of the shadows on the landing the figure of the stern old m

of solitude stretched before her. Four hours before she could expect Dennis to knock at her door! Four hours of hear

ready she had been robbed of those little lives t

herself, "I am frightened! fr

r eyes from the letter that lay on the

has do

nce she stood still. Her expression changed. Her face flamed with colour, a

hooks, she had no thought for the delicacy of the lace, or the fragility of the material. She almost spu

d her high-heeled satin shoes. Then softly, and with that same curious fever urging her on,

up in bed nervously as she heard the door

o is there? Is it you, Denn

learly, the light was so dim; but almost immediately she recognized that it was not Dennis who had come, and, slipping in haste from the bed, she

u? Tell me. Oh, please tell me!" C

ught at he

ened ... very frightened. I cannot stay alone. I want to be near the childre

ed like some spirit, tall and straight in her long, white nightgown, wi

e frightened herself, but she

id she wish to, she only wanted to help, to comfort, if possible, for she reali

p as a gesture of silence, s

and they passed together out of the room

s so changed, so dull, so hoarse. "Don't stand betwee

ildren down. I don't think they will wake. Make the bed ready and turn the lights lo

but she quickly felt that it would be a wise thing to occupy the other woman a little, for even to her untu

g ready and come up again, you mig

to see the pitiful eagerness wi

sted herself of her silk underskirt, so that

ed Caroline gently on one side. "I can lift h

he took it out of the bed; but the colour came back to her face,

securely about the little feet

ring Baby," s

ld woke, though Baby for a moment opened her sleepy eyes as

g the two listeners had assured themselves that the rest was unbroken) the mother went

e said hoarsely; "to-mor

unevenly; "won't you have somethin

aid Camilla; "how selfish I am, dra

e in hush

bit cold," C

lip on something about her shou

ir in front of the fire, and then she went down t

ed the girl a second time to go back to her b

k, and she knelt down, chafing first the cold,

said after a little while. "Dear heart, she has g

little sign of warmth and life into her; the

, and the old nurse I had was so angry with him!... She said it was such a bad habit. But I loved to see him with that little creature in his arms; he was so gentle wit

se. Caroline still c

ve them both just the same, but Betty belonged to the beginning. Her father neve

You will feel so much better there, and the children will keep you warm.

ing's eyes was very pleasant to th

fear and the uneasiness began to slip from her. When

of strength, of comfort. How angry nurse would have been if I had disturbed her as I

ere was a great swe

piritual touch about her, and yet she was human,

ress.... I am sure you oug

been a tired child, she stood and looked at the mother nestling down in the bed

ittle while in case you

ard her as

on fell upon her; she lay with a hand touching each of her chil

m the floor; she laid it and th

n noiselessly. By the firelight she saw the scattered jewels and gathered them t

e paused and listene

er moved; she ha

!" said Caroli

she could not stay in it; so, as sleep was impossible now, she dressed

f some use,

nse of extraordinary gladness to see those three so closely together; in t