Elster's Folly - Mrs. Henry Wood (top android ebook reader .TXT) 📗

Fascinating

_Ruination By Penny-Worths_!

 

Good Luck To You,  Dear,  In Your Fresh Settling Down In The Heimath

Land.

 

Mrs. M---- (Where We Were _Lunching_) Asked Tenderly After My Large

Young Family--As Strangers Usually Do. Then She Said,  "But You Write

So Sympathetically Of Children,  And 'A Soldier's Children' Is So

Real--I Thought They Must Be Yours." On Which I Explained The

Dear Queers To Her. To Whom Be Love! And To Richard.

 

Ever,  Dear,  Yours Lovingly,

J.H.E.

 

 

 

 

To Mrs. Going.

 

Midsummer Day,  1884.

 

 

 

 

My Dear Mrs. Going,

 

Not A Moment Till Now Have I Found--To Tell You I Got Home Safe And

Sound,  And That Your Delicious Cream Was Duly And Truly Appreciated!

 

The Last Of It Was Merged In An Admirable Gooseberry Fool!

 

The Roses Suffered By The Hot Journey--But Even The Least Flourishing

Of Them Received Great Admiration--From Their Size--As The Skeletons

Of Saurians Make A Smaller World Stand Aghast!!!

 

This Last Sentence Smacks Of Jules Verne! I Don't Care Much For

Him--After All. It Is Rather _Bookmaking_.

 

But I Have Had A Lot Of Hearty Laughs Over "The Heroine"! It Is Very

Funny--If Not _Very_ Refined. Some Of The Situations Admirable. There

Is Something In The Girl's Calling Her Father "Wilkinson" All The Way

Through--Quite As Comic As Anything In _Vice Versa_--A Book Which I

Never Managed To Get To The End Of.

 

I Hope Your Wedding Went Well To-Day. Ps,  For Wives To Do So."

 

"Some Do,  And Some Don't," Observed Thomas Carr,  Who Never Flattered At

The Expense Of Truth. "Are You Going Down To Hartledon?"

 

"Hartledon!" With A Perceptible Shiver. "In The Mind I Am In,  I Shall

Never Visit Hartledon Again; There Are Some In Its Vicinity I Would

Rather Not Insult By My Presence. Why Do You Bring Up Disagreeable

Subjects?"

 

"You Will Have To Get Over That Feeling," Observed Mr. Carr,  Disregarding

The Hint,  And Taking Out His Probing-Knife. "And The Sooner It Is Got

Over The Better For All Parties. You Cannot Become An Exile From Your Own

Place. Are They At Calne Now?"

 

"Yes. They Were In Paris Just Before We Left It,  And There Was An

Encounter At Versailles. I Wished Myself Dead; I Declare I Did. A Day Or

Two After We Came To England They Crossed Over,  And Went Straight Down To

Calne. There--Don't Say Any More."

 

"The Longer You Keep Away From Hartledon The Greater Effort It Will Cost

You To Go Down To It; And--"

 

"I Won't Go To Hartledon," He Interrupted,  In A Sort Of Fury; "Neither

Perhaps Would You,  In My Place."

 

"Sir," Cried Mr. Carr's Clerk,  Bustling In And Addressing His Master,

"You Are Waited For At The Chambers Of Serjeant Gale. The Consultation Is

On."

 

Lord Hartledon Rose.

 

"I Will Not Detain You,  Carr; Business Must Be Attended To. Will You Come

And Dine With Us This Evening? Only Me And My Wife. Here's Where We Are

Staying--Piccadilly. My Own House Is Let,  You Know."

 

"I Have No Engagement,  And Will Come With Pleasure," Said Mr. Carr,

Taking The Card. "What Hour?"

 

"Ah,  That's Just What I Can't Tell You. Lady Hartledon Orders Dinner To

Suit Her Engagements--Any Time Between Six And Nine! I Never Know. We Are

A Fashionable Couple,  Don't You See?"

 

"Stay,  Though,  Hartledon; I Forget. I Have A Business Appointment For

Half-Past Eight. Perhaps I Can Put It Off."

 

"Come Up At Six. You'll Be All Right,  Then,  In Any Case."

 

Lord Hartledon Left The Temple,  And Sauntered Towards Home. He Had

No Engagement On Hand--Nothing To Kill Time. He And His Wife Were

Falling Naturally Into The Way Of--As He Had Just Cynically Styled

It--Fashionable People. She Went Her Way And He Went His.

 

Many A Cabman Held Up His Hand Or His Whip; But In His Present Mood

Walking Was Agreeable To Him: Why Should He Hurry Home,  When He Had

Nothing On Earth To Do There? So He Stared Here,  And Gazed There,  And

Stopped To Speak To This Acquaintance,  And Walked A Few Steps With That,

Went Into His Club For Ten Minutes,  And Arrived Home At Last.

 

His Wife's Carriage Was At The Door Waiting For Her. She Was Bound On An

Expedition To Chiswick: Lord Hartledon Had Declined It. He Met Her

Hastening Out As He Entered,  And She Was Looking Very Cross.

 

"How Late You Are Going,  Maude!"

 

"Yes,  There Has Been A Mistake," She Said Peevishly,  Turning In With Him

To A Small Room They Used As A Breakfast-Room. "I Have Been Waiting All

This Time For Lady Langton,  And She,  I Find,  Has Been Waiting For Me. I'm

Now Going Round To Take Her Up. Oh,  I Have Secured That Opera-Box,  Val,

But At An Extravagant Price,  Considering The Little Time That Remains Of

The Season."

 

"What Opera-Box?"

 

"Didn't I Tell You? It's One I Heard Of Yesterday. I Was Not Going Again

To Put Up With The Wretched Little Box They Palmed You Off With. I Did

Tell You That."

 

"It Was The Only One I Could Get,  Maude: There Was No Other Choice."

 

"Yes,  I Know. Well,  I Have Secured Another For The Rest Of The Season,

And You Must Not Talk About Extravagance,  Please."

 

"Very Well," Said Val,  With A Smile. "For What Hour Have You Ordered

Dinner?"

 

"Nine O'clock."

 

"Nine O'clock! That's Awkward--And Late."

 

"Why Awkward? You May Have To Wait For Me Even Then. It Is Impossible To

Say When We Shall Get Home From Chiswick. All The World Will Be There."

 

"I Have Just Asked Carr To Dine With Us,  And Told Him To Come At Six. I

Don't Fancy These Hard-Working Men Care To Wait So Long For Their Dinner.

And He Has An Appointment For Half-Past Eight."

 

The Colour Came Flushing Into Lady Hartledon's Face,  An Angry Light Into

Her Eyes.

 

"You Have Asked Carr To Dinner! How Dared You?"

 

Val Looked Up In Quiet Amazement.

 

"Dared!"

 

"Well--Yes. Dared!"

 

"I Do Not Understand You,  Maude. I Suppose I May Exercise The Right Of

Inviting A Friend To Dinner."

 

"Not When It Is Objectionable To Me. I Dislike That Man Carr,  And Will

Not Receive Him."

 

"You Can Have No Grounds For Disliking Him," Returned Lord Hartledon

Warmly. "He Has Been A Good And True Friend To Me Ever Since I Knew What

Friendship Meant; And He Is A Good And True Man."

 

"Too Much Of A Friend," She Sarcastically Retorted. "You Don't Need Him

Now,  And Can Drop Him."

 

"Maude," Said Lord Hartledon,  Very Quietly,  "I Have Fancied Several Times

Lately That You Are A Little Mistaking Me. I Am Not To Have A Will Of My

Own; I Am To Bend In All Things To Yours; You Are To Be Mistress And

Master,  I A Nonentity: Is It Not So? This Is A Mistake. No Woman Ever Had

A Better Or More Indulgent Husband Than You Shall Find In Me: But In All

Necessary Things,  Where It Is Needful And Expedient That I Should

Exercise My Own Judgment,  And Act As Master,  I Shall Do It."

 

She Paused In Very Astonishment: The Tone Was So Calmly Decisive.

 

"My Dear,  Let Us Have No More Of This; Something Must Have Vexed You

To-Day."

 

"We Will Have No More Of It," She Passionately Retorted; "And I'll Have

No More Of Your Thomas Carrs. It Is Not Right That You Should Bring A Man

Here Who Has Deliberately Insulted Me. Be Quiet,  Lord Hartledon; He Has.

What Else Was It But An Insult--His Going Out Of The Chapel In The Manner

He Did,  When We Were Before The Altar? It Was A Direct Intimation That He

Did Not Countenance The Marriage. He Would Have Preferred,  I Suppose,

That You Should Marry Your Country Sweetheart,  Anne Ashton."

 

A Hot Flush Rose To Lord Hartledon's Brow,  But His Tone Was Strangely

Temperate. "I Have Already Warned You,  Maude,  That We Shall Do Well To

Discard That Name From Our Discussions,  And If Possible From Our

Thoughts; It May Prove Better For Both Of Us."

 

"Better For You,  Perhaps; But You Are _Not_ Going To Exercise Any Control

Over My Will,  Or Words,  Or Action; And So I Tell You At Once. I'm Quite

Old Enough To Be Out Of Leading-Strings,  And I'll Be Mistress In My Own

House. You Will Do Well To Send A Note To Your Amiable Friend Carr; It

May Save Him A Useless Journey; For At My Table He Shall Not Sit. Now You

Know,  Val."

 

She Spoke Impatiently,  Haughtily,  And Swept Out To Her Carriage. Val Did

Not Follow To Place Her In; He Positively Did Not,  But Left Her To The

Servants. Never In His Whole Life Perhaps Had He Felt So Nettled,  Never

So Resolute: The Once Vacillating,  Easily-Persuaded Man,  When Face To

Face With People,  Was Speedily Finding The Will He Had Only Exercised

Behind Their Backs. He Rang The Bell For Hedges.

 

"Her Ladyship Has Ordered Dinner For Nine O'clock," He Said,  When The

Butler Appeared.

 

"I Believe So,  My Lord."

 

"It Will Be Inconvenient To Me To Wait So Long To-Day. I Shall Dine At

Seven. You Can Serve It In This Room,  Leaving The Dining-Room For Lady

Hartledon. Mr. Carr Dines With Me."

 

So Hedges Gave The Necessary Orders,  And Dinner Was Laid In The

Breakfast-Room. Thomas Carr Came In,  Bringing The News That He Had

Succeeded In Putting Off His Appointment. Lord Hartledon Received Him In

The Same Room,  Fearing Possibly The Drawing-Room Might Be Invaded By His

Wife. She Was Just As Likely To Be Home Early From Chiswick As Late.

 

"We Have It To Ourselves,  Carr,  And I Am Not Sorry. There Was No

Certainty About My Wife's Return,  So I Thought We'd Dine Alone."

 

They Very Much Enjoyed Their Tete-A-Tete Dinner; As They Had Enjoyed Many

A One In Hartledon's Bachelor Days. Thomas Carr--One Of The Quiet,  Good

Men In A Fast World--Was An Admirable Companion,  Full Of Intelligence And

Conversation. Hedges Left Them Alone After The Cloth Was Removed,  But In

A Very Few Minutes Returned; His Step Rather More Subdued Than Usual,  As

If He Came Upon Some Secret Mission.

 

"Here's That Stranger Come Again,  Sir," He Began,  In Low Tones; And It

May As Well Be Remarked That In Moments Of Forgetfulness He Often Did

Address His Master As He Used To Address Him In The Past. "He Asked If--"

 

"What Stranger?" Rather Testily Interposed Lord Hartledon. "I Am At

Dinner,  And Can't See Any Stranger Now. What Are You Thinking About,

Hedges?"

 

"It Is What I Said," Returned Hedges; "But He Would Not Take The Answer.

He Said He Had Come A Long Way To See Your Lordship,  And He Would See

You; His Business Was Very Important. My Lady Asked Him--"

 

"Has Lady Hartledon Returned?"

 

"She Came In Now,  My Lord,  While I Was Denying You To Him. Her Ladyship

Heard Him Say He Would See You,  And She Inquired What His Business Was;

But He Did Not Tell Her. It Was Private Business,  He Remarked,  And Could

Only Be Entered Into With Your Lordship."

 

"Who Is It,  Hedges? Do You Know Him?"

 

Lord Hartledon Had Dropped His Voice To Confidential Tones. Hedges Was

Faithful,  And Had Been Privy To Some Of His Embarrassments In The Old

Days. The Man Looked At The Barrister,  And Seemed To Hesitate.

 

"Speak Out. You Can Say Anything Before Mr. Carr."

 

"I Don't Know Him," Answered Hedges. "It Is The Gentleman Who Came To

Hartledon The Week After Your Lordship's Marriage,  Asking Five Hundred

Questions,  And Wanting--"

 

"He,  Is It?" Interrupted Val. "You Told Me About Him When I Came Home,

I Remember. Go On,  Hedges."

 

"That's All,  My Lord. Except That He Is Here Now"--And Hedges Nodded His

Head Towards The Room-Door. "He Seems Very Inquisitive. When My Lady Went

Upstairs,  He Asked Whether That Was The Countess,  And Followed Her To The

Foot Of The Stairs To Look After Her. I Never Saw Any Gentleman Stare

So."

 

Val Played With His Wine-Glass,  And Pondered. "I Don't Believe I Owe A

Shilling In The World," Quoth He--Betraying The Bent Of His Thoughts,  And

Speaking To No One In Particular. "I Have Squared-Up Every Debt,  As Far

As I Know."

 

"He Does Not Look Like A Creditor," Observed Hedges,  With A Fatherly Air.

"Quite Superior To That: More Like A Parson. It's His Manner That Makes

One Doubt. There Was A Mystery About It At Hartledon That I Didn't Like;

And He Refused To Give His Name. His Insisting On Seeing Your Lordship

Now,  At Dinner Or Not At Dinner,  Is Odd Too; His Voice Is Quiet,  Just As

If He Possessed The Right To Do This. I Didn't Know What To Do,  And

As I Say,  He's In The Hall."

 

"Show Him In Somewhere,  Hedges. Lady Hartledon Is In The Drawing-Room,  I

Suppose: Let Him Go Into The Dining-Room."

 

"Her Ladyship's Dinner Is Being Laid There,  My Lord," Dissented The

Cautious Retainer. "She Said It Was To Be Served As Soon As It Was Ready,

Having Come Home Earlier Than She Expected."

 

"Deuce Take It!" Testily Responded Val,  "One Can't Swing A Cat In These

Cramped Hired Houses. Show Him Into My Smoking-Den Upstairs."

 

"Let Me