He Knew He Was Right

ill only be necessary to say further of him that he was a man popular with those among whom he lived, as a politician, as a sportsman, and as a member of society. He could speak we

pleasant thing has been lavished. There was that little slur on his good name to which allusion has been made; but those who knew Colonel Osborne best were generally willing to declare that no harm was intended, and that the evils which arose were always to be attributed to mistaken jealousy. He had, his friends said, a free and pleasant way with women which women like, a pleasant way of free friendship; that there was no more, and that the harm whic

about this time with a gossip of hers the danger of Mrs Trevelyan’s position, ‘or there would h

e. He was not a man who boasted of his conquests. He was not a ravening wolf going about seeking whom he might devour, and determined to devour whatever might come in his way; but he liked that which was pleasan

e, unasked by him, and disturb his happiness? And then this poor wife of his, who knew so little of English life, who had lived in the Mandarin Islands almost since she had been a child, who had lived in one colony or another almost since she had been born, who had had so few of those advantages for which he should have looked in marrying a wife, how was the poor girl to conduct herself properly when subjected to the arts and practised villanies of this viper? And yet the poor girl was so stiff in her temper, had picked up such a trick of obstinacy in those tropical regions, that Louis Trevelyan felt that he did not know how to manage her. He too had heard how Jane Marriott had been carried off to Naples after she had become Mrs Poole. Must he too carry off his wife to Naples in order to place her out of the reach of this hyena? It was terrible to him to think that he must pack up everything and run away from such a one as Colonel Osborne. And even were he to consent to do this, how could he explain it all to that very wife fo

came, but Mrs Fairfax had called, not getting out of her carriage, and Nora had been constrained to go down to her. She had hesitated a moment, and Colonel Osborne had observed and partly understood the hesitation. When he saw i

Mrs Trevelyan; ‘Mrs Fairfax will be e

a had gone, and Trevelyan had heard her as she was goin

be so nice,’ said Mrs Trevelya

must not talk of my managing

husband and that her husband had not objected. But that was now some months ago, before baby was born; and she was aware also that he had not called her so latterly in presence of her husband. She thoroughly wished that she knew how to ask him not to do so again; but the matter

u call it, which I can’t do at

think that they and they only make politics bearable. But this would not be a job

in Islands, who had had a holiday lately, and who could but ill afford to take any holidays at his own expense? Colonel Osborne was on this committee, and, moreover, was on good terms at the Colonial Office. There were men in office who would be glad to do Colonel Osborne a service, and then if this were a job, it would be so very little of a job! Perhaps Sir Marmaduke might not be the very best man for the purpose. Perhaps the government of the Mandar

at any rate,’ s

. Mamma would come w

that. It’s not very likely that h

imself. Fancy having them here in the autumn! I suppose if he came f

onial servants know how to stretch a poi

y? Think of all that they have to endure out in those horr

efer London,

en he comes. I never cared about your being in parliament before, but

as regarded any offence against Mr Trevelyan. But just then there came a word which

ulation with you, Emi

is t

ot tell you

r! and w

ould be very damaging to me. And, beyond that, I wouldn’t wish him to know that I had meddled with it at all. I am very chary of having my nam

spoken by her husband, she would not have thought much about it. She would have connected the man’s friendship for herself with his very old friendship for her father, and she would have regarded the assurance as made to the Rowleys in general, and not to herself in particular. But now, after what had occurred, it pained her to be told by Colonel Osborne that he would make, specially on her behalf, a sacrifi

fe, and of begging her pardon for the words which he had already spoken. He believed that he would best do his duty by that plan of being round with her; but then it would be so much pleasanter at any rate, so much easier, to beg her pardon. But of one thing he was quite certain, he must by some means exclude Colonel Osborne from his house. He could not live and continue to endure the feelings which he had suffered while sitting downstairs at his desk, with the knowledge that Colonel Osborne was closeted with his wife upstairs. It might be that the

apology which her husband might offer to her. To this state of mind she was brought by the consciousness of having a secret from him, and by a sense not of impropriety on her own part, but of conduct which some people might have called improper in her mode of parting from the man against whom her husba

may be cross and sulky,’ said Mrs Trevely

Nora asked, as soon as Mrs

since you left me,’

ent out before

went himself; but he did not come near me. It is for him to judge

indicated that she had judged her husband’s con

will really come?’ said Nora, ch

m afraid to say a word lest I should be accused of doing wrong.

ll tell

ill tell

ray do not keep anyt

et. Only in such matters as that about politics n

o her it seemed to be very bad that there should be a secret betwee

spect me next?’ said M

n you say anyt

k as if

nk it would be wiser to

o. For whose sake is Colonel Osborne doing this? For papa’s and mamma’s! I suppose Louis won’t be jealo