Part 111 (2/2)

The time had pa.s.sed unheeded. The morning movement in the house had failed to catch her ear. She was first called out of herself to the sense of the present and pa.s.sing events by the voice of the servant-girl outside the door.

”The master wants you, ma'am, down stairs.”

She rose instantly and put away the little book.

”Is that all the message?” she asked, opening the door.

”Yes, ma'am.”

She followed the girl down stairs; recalling to her memory the strange words addressed to her by Geoffrey, in the presence of the servants, on the evening before. Was she now to know what those words really meant?

The doubt would soon be set at rest. ”Be the trial what it may,” she thought to herself, ”let me bear it as my mother would have borne it.”

The servant opened the door of the dining-room. Breakfast was on the table. Geoffrey was standing at the window. Hester Dethridge was waiting, posted near the door. He came forward--with the nearest approach to gentleness in his manner which she had ever yet seen in it--he came forward, with a set smile on his lips, and offered her his hand!

She had entered the room, prepared (as she believed) for any thing that could happen. She was not prepared for this. She stood speechless, looking at him.

After one glance at her, when she came in, Hester Dethridge looked at him, too--and from that moment never looked away again, as long as Anne remained in the room.

He broke the silence--in a voice that was not like his own; with a furtive restraint in his manner which she had never noticed in it before.

”Won't you shake hands with your husband,” he asked, ”when your husband asks you?”

She mechanically put her hand in his. He dropped it instantly, with a start. ”G.o.d! how cold!” he exclaimed. His own hand was burning hot, and shook incessantly.

He pointed to a chair at the head of the table.

”Will you make the tea?” he asked.

She had given him her hand mechanically; she advanced a step mechanically--and then stopped.

”Would you prefer breakfasting by yourself?” he said.

”If you please,” she answered, faintly.

”Wait a minute. I have something to say before you go.”

She waited. He considered with himself; consulting his memory--visibly, unmistakably, consulting it before he spoke again.

”I have had the night to think in,” he said. ”The night has made a new man of me. I beg your pardon for what I said yesterday. I was not myself yesterday. I talked nonsense yesterday. Please to forget it, and forgive it. I wish to turn over a new leaf and make amends--make amends for my past conduct. It shall be my endeavor to be a good husband. In the presence of Mrs. Dethridge, I request you to give me a chance. I won't force your inclinations. We are married--what's the use of regretting it? Stay here, as you said yesterday, on your own terms. I wish to make it up. In the presence of Mrs. Dethridge, I say I wish to make it up. I won't detain you. I request you to think of it. Good-morning.”

He said those extraordinary words like a slow boy saying a hard lesson--his eyes on the ground, his fingers restlessly fastening and unfastening a b.u.t.ton on his waistcoat.

Anne left the room. In the pa.s.sage she was obliged to wait, and support herself against the wall. His unnatural politeness was horrible; his carefully a.s.serted repentance chilled her to the soul with dread.

She had never felt--in the time of his fiercest anger and his foulest language--the unutterable horror of him that she felt now.

Hester Dethridge came out, closing the door behind her. She looked attentively at Anne--then wrote on her slate, and held it out, with these words on it:

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