The Law and the Lady

rm. But I can hardly say that he suc

his capacity to make my life with him a happy one. He had asked himself if he had not met me too late-if he were not already a man soured and broken by the disappointments and disenchantments of the past? Do

remembrance of what I had seen troubled me in secret, and when I asked myse

e train at

ually desirous, considering the circumstances under which we had married, of escaping the notice of friends and acquaintances. With this object in view, having celebrated our marriage privately in London, we had decided on ins

exquisite happiness, never to be forgotten, never

, a trifling incident happened, which was noticeable, never

d days at the Vicarage my capacity as a sound sleeper had been the subject of many a little harmless joke. From the moment when my head was on the pillow I had nev

gain. The effort was useless. Such a restlessness possessed me that I was not even able to lie still in the bed. My hu

he exercise. I took up a book, and laid it aside again. My attention wandered; the author was powerless to recall it. I got on my feet once more, and looked at Eustace, and admired him and loved him in his tranquil sleep. I went back to the window, and wearied of the beautiful morning. I sat down before the glass and loo

ticed was his dressing-cas

took them out. Little by little I completely emptied the dressing-case. It was lined with blue velvet. In one corner I noticed a tiny slip of loose blue silk. Taking it between my finger and thumb, and drawing it upward, I discovered th

ss to say I laid aside after only looking at the addresses; and, under all, a photograph, f

ear son,

o obstinately and mercilessly o

was arranged in rows of little quaint old-fashioned curls on either side of the head, under a plain lace cap. At one corner of the mouth there was a mark, apparently a mole, which added to the characteristic peculiarity of the face. I looked and looked, fixi

covery of the photograph quieted

otograph) exactly as I had found them, and returned to the bedroom. As I looked at my husband, still sleeping peacefully, the question forced itself into my min

h. It had been tacitly understood between us that we were not to speak of his mother-and, besid

The vessel was safely moored in the inner harbor, and the sai

ter. He asked me if I would wait for his return. The day was enticingly beautiful, and the tide was on the ebb. I pleaded for a walk on the sands; and the landlady at our lodgings, who happened to be in the room at the time, volunteered to ac

the landlady and I

glish Channel-it was all so exhilarating, it was all so delightful, that I really believe if I had been by myself I could have danced for joy like a child. The one drawback to my happiness was the landlady's untiring tongue. She was a forward, good-natured,

than half an hour, when we overtook

et, and accidentally drew out with it a letter, which fell unnoticed by her, on th

the dressing-case! there was my husband's mother, standing face to face with me! I recognized the quaint little gray

her minute I was walking side by side with the woman who had sternly repudiated me as a member of her family; feeling, I own, terribly discompo

ned to say that I supposed we must by that time be near the end of our walk-the little watering-place called Broadstairs. "

beating heart

in her face. Old Mrs. Woodville went on talking to young Mrs. Woodville ju

that I was suffering. Happening to look at me at the end of her

very pale-you are looking quite exhausted. Come an

. I vaguely heard the voluble landlady's expressions of sympathy and regret; I mechanically took the smellin

on the spot. But I had Eustace to think of. I was entirely ignorant of the relations

before she had received a telegram announcing that one of her sisters was seriously ill. She was herself thank God, still active and strong, and she had thought it her duty to start at once for Ramsgate. Toward the mo

intimidated by my extraordinary position to be able to continue the conversation. The

direction of Ramsgate. "You can never walk back. Shall we ask

advanced a l

t us, as we had arranged. The irrepressible landlady gave the freest expression to

o keen as ours; she had not recognized her son yet. He had young eyes like us, and he recognized his mother. For a moment he

!" he sai

ed. "Have you heard of your aunt's illness t

r-in-law in a state of amazement, which paralyzed even her tongue. I waited with my eyes on my husband, to see what he would do. If

He came to my side

this is?" he sa

g at me with a court

to me a letter that I dropped. I think I heard the name"

a grasp that hurt me. He set his mother right, it is onl

her, very quietly, "t

he first expression of surprise passed from her face. It was succeeded by the most

our wife,

d she waved him back from her, and went on he