He Knew He Was Right

ey themselves have been the cause. The author is not speaking now of actual love-makings, of intrigues and devilish villany, either perpetrated or imagined; but

mself probably, unconsciously indeed, and with no formed words, that the husband is an ass, an ass if he be in a twitter either for that which he has kept or for that which he has been unable to keep, that the lady has shewn a good deal of appreciation, and that he himself is is is quite a Captain Bold of Halifax! All the while he will not have the slightest intention of wronging the husband’s honour, and will have received no greater favour from the intimacy accorded to him than the privilege of running on one day to Marshall and Snellgrove’s, the haberdashers, and on another to Handcocks’, the jewel

has to give, could hardly have wished to run away with his neighbour’s wife, or to have destroyed the happiness of his old friend’s daughter. Such wickedness had never come into his head; but he had a certain pleasure in being the confidential friend of a very pretty woman; and when he heard that that pretty woman’s husband was jealous, the pleasure was enhanced rather than otherwise. On that Sunday, as he had left the house in Curzon S

in hand whose time was of the slightest value to himself or any one else. But now that mission assumed an importance in his eyes, and seemed to require either a special observance or a special excuse. There was no real reason why he should not have sta

ny, M

r E

t wicked, do tell me whether I am to consider myself as a banished man. I thought that our little meetings were so innocent and so pleasan

lways h

.

er that I consider myself always entitled to b

had been very doubtful. In regard to the number of words, Mrs Trevelyan certainly had had the best of it. As far as any understanding one of another was concerned, the conversation had been useless. She believed herself to be injured and aggrieved, and would continue so to assert, let him implore her to listen to him as loudly as he might. ‘Yes I will listen, and

ger against her husband. If he laid any command upon her, she would execute it; but she would never cease to tell him that h

intelligible order to the contrary. She was fortifying her mind with this resolution when Colonel Osborne’s letter was brought to her. She asked whether any servant was waiting for an an

Colonel

nk of it. As far as I am concerned, I wish for no change except that people should be more reasonable.

ost sin

Trev

the words of

the letter should be posted. But she destroyed that which she had received from Colonel Osborne. In all things she would act as she would h

ch he himself was accustomed to occupy behind the parlour, and as he did s

uage he could use as to the unseemliness of her intimacy with Colonel Osborne; and then, the first thing she had done when his back was turned was to write to this very Colonel Osborne, and tell him, no doubt, what had occurred between her and her husband. He sat thinking of it all for many minutes. He would probably have declared himself th

d her away?’ sa

ew minutes. Since what I said to you this mo

you have found it out; but I

came into the house, I saw y

ould have read it

u to be on your guard in what you say. I will bear much for you, and m

part,’ said Mrs Trevelyan, rising from her chair, and conf

slowly. ‘But in the first place I wish you to

ame in, no doubt it is ther

I have desired you to tell

o insignificant in my own justification. If you suspect me of writing w

rom Colonel Osbor

hav

re is hi

destro

opposite to him, confronting him with the scorn of her bright angry eyes. Of course, he was n

ng away towards the door. ‘If you want to p

call m

you are a husband, is the privilege of

is. My present orders to you are not to see Colonel Osborne, not to write to him or have any communication with him, and to

l go

your p

ill make no promise exacted from

use to o

othing, and will

I will take care that you shall he

passing through the hall, saw th