Part 16 (1/2)
”If she can.”
He knew Mrs. Wilmer's failing as well as though he had been a man of years.
CHAPTER XII.
A CLOUD.
Two years had gone by since Scott's marriage, when one evening he entered his wife's room and found her standing before the mirror putting the finis.h.i.+ng touches to her rich and becoming toilet. Scott's brain was weary, for he had been studying all day over a very perplexing case which he had set out to win, and with very little foundation to work on. He threw himself on the soft velvet cus.h.i.+ons of the crimson sofa, placing his hand over his brow, as if to still the throbbing of his temples. Irene, dressed in a pale pink satin, with sweeping train and airy lace overdress looped up with moss rosebuds, with diamond set necklace and bracelets, and the tip of her satin slipper just in view, presented a very pretty picture to Scott, but he was somewhat surprised that she did not speak, or even smile.
”Are you going out?” he asked.
”Oh, Scott! I almost forgot that you were here.”
”So I observe.”
”Yes, I meant to have spoken of it before. Of course you know that this is the night of the Vand.y.k.e ball.”
”I had not thought of it.”
”Why do you not go?”
”I did not know that anyone wished me to,” he answered.
”Oh, dear! Of course you know that I wish you to go, but you are such a recluse of late that you almost seem out of place in society.”
”Perhaps I am out of place. It would almost seem that I am out of place in my wife's society.”
”How you talk! You have a right to go if you wish. I suppose you were included in the invitation.”
”I suppose I have a right, but I have no desire.”
”Then I am not to blame.”
”Who attends you?”
”Colonel Brunswick.”
”That villain? You shall not go with him,” he said, starting up.
”Shall not?” she repeated, turning quickly.
”Excuse me, Irene, but it is my wish that you ignore that man's society at once.”
”He is one of the most stylish men of my acquaintance.”
”He has no principle.”
”Oh, Scott!” she said, with a toss of her head. ”Really, you do put a wonderful amount of stress on virtue, and think as little of style as though you were raised among a band of gypsies.”