Your wife will be glad to see you.'
'Violet! You have ruined our happiness. How could you have the heart to do it! It is not for myself I speak, God knows. But to think of her feelings being so abused, her confidence so shaken--'
'All right, Frankie, there is nothing to be tragic about.'
'Haven't you been to my house?'
'Yes, I have.'
'And seen her?'
'Yes.'
'Well then--'
'I didn't give you away, my boy. I was a model of discretion. I give you my word that it is all right. And she's a dear little soul, Frankie. You're not worthy to varnish those pretty patent leathers of hers. You know you're not. And by Jove, Frankie, if you had stayed with me yesterday I should never have forgiven you--no, never! I'll resign in her favour. I will. But in no one else's, and if ever I hear of your going wrong, my boy, or doing anything but the best with that sweet trusting woman, I'll make you curse the day that ever you knew me--I will, by the living Jingo.'
'Do, Violet--you have my leave.'
'All right. The least said the soonest mended. Give me a kiss before we part.'
She raised her veil, and he kissed her. He was wearing some withered flower in his overcoat, and she took it from him.
'It's a souvenir of our friendship, Frankie, and rather a good emblem of it also. So-long!' said she, as she turned down the weary road which leads to the station. A young golfer, getting in at Byfleet, was surprised to see a handsome woman weeping bitterly in the corner of a second-class carriage. 'Comm' up from roastin' somebody at that damned crematory place,' was his explanation to his companion.
Frank had a long and animated account from Maude of the extraordinary visitor whom she had entertained. 'It's such a pity, dear, that you don't know her well, for I should really like to hear every detail about her. At first I thought she was mad, and then I thought she was odious, and then finally she seemed to be the very wisest and kindest woman that I had ever known. She made me angry, and frightened, and grieved, and grateful, and affectionate, one after the other, and I never in my life was so taken out of myself by any one. She IS so sensible!'
'Sensible, is she?'
'And she said that I was--oh! I can't repeat it--everything that is nice.'
'Then she IS sensible.'
'And such a high opinion of your taste.'
'Had she indeed.'
'Do you know, Frank, I really believe that in a quiet, secret, retiring sort of way she has been fond of you herself.'
'O Maude, what funny ideas you get sometimes! I say, if we are going out for dinner, it is high time that we began to dress.'
CHAPTER XX--NO. 5 CHEYNE ROW
Frank had brought home the Life of Carlyle, and Maude had been dipping into it in the few spare half-hours which the many duties of a young housekeeper left her. At first it struck her as dry, but from the moment that she understood that this was, among other things, an account of the inner life of a husband and a wife, she became keenly interested, and a passionate and unreasonable partisan. For Frederick and Cromwell and the other great issues her feelings were tolerant but lukewarm. But the great sex-questions of 'How did he treat her?' and of 'How did she stand it?' filled her with that eternal and personal interest with which they affect every woman. Her gentle nature seldom disliked any one, but certainly amongst those whom she liked least, the gaunt figure of the Chelsea sage began to bulk largely. One night, as Frank sat reading in front of the fire, he suddenly found his wife on her knees upon the rug, and a pair of beseeching eyes upon his face.
'Frank, dear, I want you to make me a promise.'
'Well, what is it?'
'Will you grant it?'
'How can I tell you when I have not heard it?'
'How horrid you are, Frank! A year ago you would have promised first and asked afterwards.'
'But I am a shrewd old married man now. Well, let me hear it.'
'I want you to promise me that you will never be a Carlyle.'
'No, no, never.'
'Really?'
'Really and truly.'
'You swear it?'
'Yes, I do.'
'O Frank, you can't think what a relief that is to me.