Part 41 (1/2)
”Yes; and I must admit I was very pleasantly surprised. I had formed an altogether wrong opinion of her.”
”Then I'm glad you met.... You see now that your suspicions of her were absolutely unfounded.”
Olive knew the sincerity in Riviere's tone. So it was just as she had guessed--the girl had been attempting a daring bluff by her self-accusation.
”Absolutely unfounded,” agreed Olive. ”That's why I want to forgive and forget.”
She gave him one of her sweetest smiles.
Riviere was puzzled. He had an uneasy feeling that something very vital was being kept from him. He noticed his wife's hands all a-quiver, and that fact jarred against the calm of her words.
He answered: ”You've changed your att.i.tude towards me very quickly. I take it you only arrived in Wiesbaden to-day?”
”Yes; but it's more than a fortnight since that scene in Larssen's office. I've had time to reflect over things. I was too hasty in what I said then. You must remember that you sprang a surprise on me when you returned in that secret way, and naturally I was put out. I always hate to be taken at a disadvantage, as you ought to know by now.... Clifford, when _will_ you learn to read women as well as you read men? If you'd approached me a little differently; if you hadn't a.s.sumed I was hostile to you; if you'd only taken me a little more patiently and pressed your point more insistently----” Olive paused significantly.
”Which point?”
”Surely you remember?”
”There were many points we discussed.”
”_The_ point--when you were generous enough to offer to start our life afresh.”
Riviere looked keenly at his wife. Her eyes were downcast, as though it hurt her modesty to have to make overtures. There was a faint blush on her cheeks.
He began to feel he had been a brute.
She continued: ”You ought to have given me a day to think it over, instead of rus.h.i.+ng away as you did. You ought to have known that a woman's pride won't let her yield without being pressed to yield. I wanted you to press me; I wanted to make a fresh start with you; I wanted to help you with your big work! Clifford when _will_ you learn to read a woman?”
”What's your suggestion now?” he asked.
”My suggestion is your own--to wipe out the past, and start our married life afresh. A few days ago I went to see a doctor--a man in Cavendish Square who has a big reputation for women's ailments. Father insisted on my going to consult him, and he was right. I ought to have gone to him months ago.”
”What did he tell you?”
”The long and short of it is that I must give up society engagements and all excitements of that kind, and lead a very quiet life. I ought to go to some quiet place away from people, with someone with me whom I care for and who cares for me. That was the gist of his prescription. Of course I have a special dietary and medicine to take, but that's only incidental!”
Her voice held a pathetic braveness, and Riviere was touched by it.
”I'm awfully sorry,” he murmured.
”It's hard on me, to give up all that.”
”I know.”
”It's meant a big fight with myself. Look at me--you can see it in my face. I'm looking a wreck.”
”The kind of life you've been leading would crack up any const.i.tution.
I'm glad you've taken advice in time.”
”It was the turning-point for me.”