Studies in Wives

sitting-room, her busy hands engaged now, as then, in mending house-linen. Now, as then also, she was expecting her brother and Matilda Wel

ding day had brought with it great changes in her life, and what she saw before her seemed, in a sense, symbolic of those changes, for in spite of her careful wate

better. Why, in old days David would of course have come in to see his sister on his way from the station, and that even in the no

those of her neighbours on either side; and as to David and Tiddy, she now told herself, almost speaking the wor

ery well kept. It was not as if David were a real widower; Mrs. Rigby could not help hoping that he would be spared some of the silly remarks, the foolish congratulations, which fall to the ordinary engaged man. It must be bad enough for him,

a very kind smile, came over Mrs.

nderness of her figure! As for David, his betrothed's little attentions evidently touched him, and no one could say that he was not an attentive lover. Think of the ring

n after the announcement of the engagement. There was no reason for delay. Mrs. Rigby had herself chosen the 3rd of August as the

as now sitting, and a slight frown came over her face. Mrs. Rigby liked her husband to come straight in to her from the office; bu

away. It must have been one of the maids going down to the

uld take place quite quietly on the 3rd of August. Everything was ready-in fact, the

nterested in this wholly feminin

ich it was destined. And then he had persuaded Matilda to go to a new dressmaker, a Frenchwoman who had been lady's maid to one of his grand county acquaintances, and who had just set up for herself in Market Dalling. More wonderful

r way round the corner from the summer-house, came, walking very slowly, a woman at once like and unlike

re, without a doubt, was Matilda wearing what were to be her wedding garments, and

l in graceful, billowy folds to the ground, for Miss Wellow was not even holding up her gown, as a more sensible woman would have done. The muslin kerchief edged with real lace, outlined the wearer's

he got up, and walked out to meet her guest, determined no

st put on his dress suit," and her expression showed clearly that in the matter of overdress

ht, Kate. He came, but he has

ctuated her words were absent. Perhaps it was the quiet, expressionless way in which she made her surprising sta

s he done that for? What business took him back to London, to

as so unlike her own, "I have got to tell you something which I fear will upset

er spoil to her this fragrant, familiar corner of her garden. All she felt now was a fierce, instinctive wish to get under shelter,-to hear what

the window, she forced M

illy quarrel. I saw from the first that you were making yourself too cheap! He can't go back to Rosaleen; he divorced her-and she's with another man. Besides, David

won't have you speak so of him-of David, I mean!" she exclaime

you had heard him telling me about it, even you, Kate, who are so hard, woul

what appeared to the other

her voice was now almost inaudible, but Mrs. Rigby

" she said,-"

ed the other was about to strike her,

arcely perceptible pause and then shot out the words-"his bride

ilda, quietly. "He's never coming back himse

g too!" said

ctful to me; he has considered m

f footsteps in the passage; the sound stopped outside the door, and both women

and Mr. Rigby came into the room, his ruddy colour gone, or rather lying

ked, with a world of interrogation

he said sharply; "this

weaker vessel. But the reproof which Mrs. Rigby had jus

earing this dress, I mean. But, you see, knowing that now I

had he wished to answer her, was not given time to do so, for his wife had

revented his doing so! But no-you stood aside and did nothing! I suppose you guessed he might meet that-that--" h

ot answer, suspicion

there? Did you think he w

. "I didn't know anything, but I di

if triumph it was

a thing, but men have such disgusting minds!" cried his wife sharply. She adde

mised to see to things for him. Rosy will join them"-he gave a little cough-"the day after to-morrow,

hand fumbled blindly among the sof

once said that he didn't like a woman without a pocket in her dress. I've found it-here it is!"-she took a step forward, and standing close to her old friend, thrust into his unresisting h

re than Mrs. Ri

that! No man would ever have dared to treat me so! But as long as she doesn't car

, for Miss Wellow suddenly swayed forward; she would

es care-more than you think, Kate. But she will

nto the bed-chamber of Mr. and Mrs. Rigby; it threw into dim relief the large, almost square four-po

d Matt, "ar

de him. Her still abundant hair was loosened and gave her

y, "I am awake, Matt.

here were understanding, sympathy, ay, and tenderness

years of married life, felt a responsive thrill. F

rget David,-my poor little David,-but it's terrible to me to think that you,