Scarlet and Hyssop

cy, which had been so trenchantly put before him by that gentleman. Half a dozen times he wished himself back in the card-room, or in the other room where their interview had taken place, in or

his imagination could not picture one in which his own part could be construed as creditable. What account would Silly Billy give of the interview? A true one, probably, because, from his point of view, it could not be bettered. "Oh, he was violent at first; but I put before him the exact consequences of further violence, and he saw it at once." That would be quite sufficient, and he could almost hear Silly Billy saying it. But paramount in his mind was anger against

, or, having said something, he should at least have had the temporary satisfaction of insulting Silly Billy. Yet that would not have done; he still saw the force of that reasoning. In fact, nothing would have done. The blam

ray houses, and just outside the curbstones, like the scum and flotsam in some cross-movement of tides, moved rows of sandwichmen bearing a various burden of advertisement, from strictly private massage establishments to ballets, the more public the better. But Berkeley Street and the Square following were a

corner, while on the writing-table which was set in the window were only two-those of Jack and his wife-a highly daring and successful arrangement. Otherwise the room was ordered, one felt, in a certain manner, not that it might be like a hundred other rooms, but because the owner wished it so, and no other way. A huge engagement book lay open on the table, with some names written fully out, but h

and guessed, too, with absolute certainty of its cause. The things that would make Jack look like that, she knew, could be numbered on the fingers, and of

it?" sh

ble where the two photographs stood. Then he took up that of Marie

. It is only right you should know. Be violent, by all means, if it gives you any satisfacti

er even dreamed he was capable of it-but she

hey like brutality," she thought t

the fireplace a

bs," he said. "The Snowflake has melted,

heard that said

y Silly

tal is he at

sat

ve stamped on him? I did not. I talked about it quite quietly with him. He pointed out that I, as a

for a moment with a

dduced me as a re

by

ing of him! You l

es

refl

ke that, that I could hardly believe it. But you did right. It was, however, quite unnecessary t

laug

always puts them square again. One ought to measure everything by that. A wife talked about-large whisky-and-soda; a friend talked about-small

etful horse answers to a hand it knows, perhaps from

he said. "You can have no

silent a momen

inced that it is the chief, if not the only, duty of a wife not to be talked about. Now, what is the reason of that, may I ask you? Is it because you demand virtue of her, fidelity to you? Not a bit of it, and you know it. You do not car

capable of popping out as on a nervous old lady on a dark night, and frightening Cabinet Ministers with his

quite like Mari

rly awkward position for you

; then, "I do not know that the censorio

that way. But you as censor of Marie's morals! Oh, does it not make you laugh, simply for fear you should cry? Have more whisky, Jack; you rea

got

l with me," he said. "I think

ment; the thing she had long bee

nd reckon up to yourself exactly what will be left of you if you do. You may do so if you choose, and you can say you have grounds, for it was I who put in

ack did not show the slightest inclination to

said; "and as I never thought you a fool, I

she said, "for it was that I was angr

d to quarrel with Ma

her time. She was aware, however, that her answer was c

she said.

e; she saw their frightened app

tired of it a

ad never seen you if you

have I

is obtuse enough. Quarrel with us one at a time, if you wish. To continue, she in

miled

mean," he said

ously embarrassed me. The marriage will not take place

nsidering m

ettled just now that your attitude on that point was not-well, considerable. But I am glad now-I speak quite calmly-that I h

interrup

much longer. There are many good women who apparently do not mind hypocrisy, but there are many women who have no pretension whatever to be good who do not like being hypocrites. I am one. I sh

dvise

ve wasted all my anger. Dear me,

itter sincerity in her tone,

matter, Mildr

perhaps reaction from my anger. Perhaps that I have got my way: I have started a scandal about Marie-got it successfull

n; it is e

aculty of wanting is a faculty which belongs to youth. Dear me! I am getting p

d I have not the honour of belonging to them.

interfere with the grous

lau

hat Imperial affairs are to rank abo

ooked at

and, for aught I know, a palmist and a dentist, and I'm dining at the Hungarian Embassy, an aff

you do i

ger do it unless you choose. Besides, I purpose to say a word for you in an august ear. He is taking an interest, I am t

pavements. He asked the man who opened the door whether his wife was at home, and, learning that she was in, went up to her sitting-room. Marie was there, sitting in the balcony overlooking

e said. "Pray don't move.

Spence

said. "I shall just get

the sitting-room and down-stairs. On the sound

hat people would talk if you were

fect

y warning. The consequence is t

e go

re?" she said

o the Snowflake has melted. I saw her driving wi

nside, followed by her husband. The room was very dark, and each could see no more than the form of the ot

his to me," she

ns you, do

press says of the King concerns

er he was almost invisible except for the glowing spark of his c

e thought possible. Who are the women who are talked about at the clubs? Half

en first by a sullen roar of

ot know-you yourself-that to couple my name with that of an

d he. "The point is that you

know it?"

bly, would have betted on Jack's saying "

lied; and his tattered f

, still in the same unnaturally even voice. "For you seem

that which I re

e clubs or out of the gutter, and you seem to think I shall care! What I care about is something quite different, and that is that you should have told me. I suppose your object was to wound me, to punish me-so you put it to yourself, for my having disregarded your warning

er bosom heaved with her intense suppressed emotion, her eye was kindled, and her mouth, slightly parted with her quickened breath, just s

d with entreaty, and l

touch me!