erewereseveralofthem—andactingtheladybountiful,leavingbehindherbewilderment,andtoooftendiscontent.Ginowonderedhowitwasthatallhispeople,whohadformerlyseemedsopleasant,hadsuddenlybecomeplaintiveanddisagreeable.Heputitdowntohisladywife’smagnificence,incomparisonwithwhichallseemedcommon.Hermoneyflewapace,inspiteofthecheapliving.ShewasevenricherthanheexpectedandherememberedwithshamehowhehadonceregrettedhisinabilitytoacceptthethousandlirethatPhilipHerritonofferedhiminexchangeforher.Itwouldhavebeenashortsightedbargain.
Liliaenjoyedsettlingintothehouse,withnothingtodoexceptgiveorderstosmilingworkpeople,andadevotedhusbandasinterpreter.ShewroteajauntyaccountofherhappinesstoMrs.Herriton,andHarrietansweredtheletter,saying(1)thatallfuturecommunicationsshouldbeaddressedtothesolicitors(2)wouldLiliareturnaninlaidboxwhichHarriethadlenther—butnotgiven—tokeephandkerchiefsandcollarsin?
“LookwhatIamgivinguptolivewithyou!”shesaidtoGino,neveromittingtolaystressonhercondescension.Hetookhertomeantheinlaidbox,andsaidthatsheneednotgiveitupatall.
“Sillyfellow,no!Imeanthelife.ThoseHerritonsareverywellconnected.TheyleadSawstonsociety.ButwhatdoIcare,solongasIhavemysillyfellow!”Shealwaystreatedhimasaboy,whichhewas,andasafool,whichhewasnot,thinkingherselfsoimmeasurablysuperiortohimthatsheneglectedopportunityafteropportunityofestablishingherrule.Hewasgood-lookingandindolentthereforehemustbestupid.Hewaspoorthereforehewouldneverdaretocriticizehisbenefactress.Hewaspassionatelyinlovewithherthereforeshecoulddoexactlyassheliked.
“Itmayn’tbeheavenbelow,”shethought,“butit’sbetterthanCharles.”
Andallthetimetheboywaswatchingher,andgrowingup.
ShewasremindedofCharlesbyadisagreeableletterfromthesolicitors,biddingherdisgorgealargesumofmoneyforIrma,inaccordancewithherlatehusband’swill.ItwasjustlikeCharles’ssuspiciousnaturetohaveprovidedagainstasecondmarriage.Ginowasequallyindignant,andbetweenthemtheycomposedastingingreply,whichhadnoeffect.HethensaidthatIrmahadbett