The Preliminaries, and Other Stories

ll holding Desire's letter in my hand and pondering over it

. The feeling that I had vicariously injured the Ackroyds was still strong upon me, and I shrank childis

y previously. A fancy seized me that the cumbersome, comfortable piece of mahogany and old brocade might indeed be a veritable witness-seat, a Chair of Truth, that in some fashion impelled its occupant to speak out from the heart the thing h

you about, Mr. Raynie," he said easily. "Ther

my desire

prise must be properly financed. I {101} prefer to pay her expenses myse

oney from any one but Mrs.

ying so, I would also prefer at present that even you and Mrs. Greening kept your hands out of your pockets. You see, Desire is my wife until she ceases to be so. It is unquestionably my right to provide for her, even in Reno, if I choose. Of course, she would say that, having left my bed

e at the moment that it would be excellent discipline to let the winds of heaven beat hars

royd shook

I have meant that Desire should have everything that a man can give, but

1

pen, and, writing on his knee, fil

y large,-- enough for a divorce de luxe. "Pardon me, but a

ne, surgeon's fingers stir as though he were involunta

nd stared gravely into the fire. "Mr. Raynie, what do the women want? What do they expect in this world,

1

," I co

rd in an exacting profession. But, as I understand the marriage contract, my work is a part of what I endowed her with. It is my life, myself.

as an impatient

s what I thought I asked of her. She has such a way of making life seem

1

trings as I saw the look of inex

that she is. Mr. Raynie, I think of Desire as undisciplined, wayward--not as wanton.--

I spoke aloud to myself

id. "It seems they still exist