withme,forreasonsthenaturalnessofwhicharousedmystrongestsuspicions.Noone,Ithought,wouldneedsomanyabsolutelyconclusivemotivestodosoverysimpleathing.IresistedthetemptationtowritetoEdward(herhusband—aniceman,butstupid!)toaskforanexplanation,fearingthatthereasonsgivenmeweretherightones(althoughIcouldnotbelieveit)inwhichcaseIshouldhavemademyselfridiculous.BerthainLondonpretendedtogotoaphysician,butneverwasseentotakemedicine,andIamcertainnowell-establishedspecialistwouldventuretotaketwoguineasfromamaladeimaginaireandnotadministercopiousdrugs.SheaccompaniedmetoParis,ostensiblytogetdresses,buthasbehavedasiftheirfitwereofnomoreconsequencethanachangeofministry.Shehastakengreatpainstoconcealheremotionsandtherebymadethemthemoreconspicuous.Icannottellyouhowoftenshehasgonethroughthevariousstagesfromanalmosthystericalelationtoanequaldespondency.Shehasmusedasprofoundlyaswasfashionablefortheyoungladiesoffiftyyearsago(wewereallyoungladiesthen—notgirls!)shehasplayedTristanandIsoldetothedistractionofmyselfshehassnubbedanamorousFrenchartisttothedistractionofhiswifefinallyshehaswept,andafterweepingover-powderedhereyes,whichinaprettywomanisaninfalliblesignofextremementalprostration.
ThismorningwhenIgotupIfoundatmydoorthefollowingmessage:“Don’tthinkmeanutterfool,butIcouldn’tstandanotherdayawayfromEdward.Leavingbythe10o’clocktrain.—B.”Nowat10.30shehadanappointmentatPaquin’stotryonthemostravishingdinner-dressyoucouldimagine.
Iwillnotinsultyoubydrawinginferencesfromallthesefacts:Iknowyouwouldmuchsoonerdrawthemyourself,andIhaveasufficientlygoodopinionofyoutobecertainthattheywillcoincidewithmine.—Yoursverysincerely,
MARYLEY.
P.S.—IamsendingthistoawaityouatSeville.Remember
metoMrs.J.