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The Brussels Post, 1886-12-3, Page 22 VAGRANT WIFEL By V, Woe, •- .6 -other of .Tun Hawse mi TIM " AT Tun Woitto's Unser," 241,0, a husband so selfish thistle Will break the night's rest of a very good nurse—I have been that, remember—on the most trifling pretexts, I dare say you think it an honour to choose me instead of Mrs, Stanley to put on 0 poultice or arrange a bandage; but I assure you it is one I don't appreciate. You aro nearly well now, and the task I set myself ef sooing you through your illness is over. My presence can only irritate yon now, and I think of taking the hint that you have often given me, and going to -day." " Go 1 What—leave me here all alone when I've shown you I like to havo you near me? All right—go along, then. you hard, heartless vixen 1 No, no," be called, as she turned again towards the door—" Annie, Annie, I didn't mean it —I'm not ungrateful—I have been sel- fish 1 Don't go till I'm quite well ; don't leave ma all alone, Annie, till I get about again 1 I like to hear your voice •, and you move so quietly, and you talk so prettily—Pm. always dull when you're out of the room—I'm sorry I've been so cross. Don't go, Annie, till I'm quite well. Wait till next week. Won't you wait just till next week, Annie ?" She came back to his side again, look- ing very grave. hero, Harry," she said; "you are well enough now for me to speak to you semotaly, as I could not speak when you vvere lying there likely to die. You have been very rude to me and ungracious, considering that I came here simply to do my best to get you well quickly. Now the duty I set myself is over, and I assure you, strange as it may 8EI022 to you, feel no irresistible wish to stay here a moment longer than is necessary. If you wish mo to stay here still and do my best to amuse you until you are strong enough to amuse yourself again, I will do so, 011 0110 condition. It is that now you will drop the tone of childish insolence to me which I have excused On account of your illness, and speak to me as other men speak to their wives— no better than that," she added, with a slight shade of irony. "So you want to preach and. domineer over me ?" protested Harry, rather sulkily, " just because said I didn't mind your being in the room. Yes, yes, I will be civil," he added hastily, as Annie's head moved away; '1 didn't mean to be rude to you ; I really am grateful, for the way you have taken care of me. Only don't speak to me in that hard voice; just say some- thing in your soft, pretty way, and I shall come round directly. You always get over me wheu you speak in your soft voice, you know." "Well, then, may I go to breakfast, Harry ?" said she, mill% and taking the hand he involuntarily stretched towards her. "'Yes, yes; I won't be selfish again. Kiss me first," said the invalid, in a more contented tone. And Annie put her lips lightly to his forehead and left the room. It was very tiresome that she should have to delay her departure from the Grange for this whim of her capricious husband. She hoped that she might be able to leave in a day or two, especially as George was expected at the Grange; and if she were to remain until his arrival, she knew well that she would find it difficult to get away. For she could not fail to see that, while she had lost the first fresh. ness of her beauty, she had acquired, by her early encounter with the world and by contact with the wits of the green- room, other charms of even greater power, which a man of Sir George's type would be likely to rate bighly— especially in the country, there women who can talk are rare. She had no longer the least fear of him, and she only dreaded, in worldly-wise feminine vanity, not his attraction for her, but hers for him. For the longing to be again at workin her profession was strong upon her, and an unacknowledged wish to see that member of it whom she liked best was stronger still. She knew, too, that these few days of delay in returning to London -might make the difference be. tween her obtaining or losing all chance of the engagement Aubrey Cooke had spoken 01 90 het. • Her excitement end impatience grew so high as she thought the matter over during her solitary breakfast that she felt obliged to throw a shawl round her and rush into the open air to calm the fever rising within her before returning to her peevish lord and. master up.stairs. How could she indium him to let her go at once, without exalt. ing the spirit of contradiction in him which would 010110 11101 tease her to stay because he saw she wished to go? She bad turned reluctantly towards the house again, and was going indoors to Harrywho would probably be dressed and up for the first time since his illness now, whet a wild but delighted shout from the gate frightened her. She saw a tall figure racing over the lawn to- wards her, and in another minute she was in Willia.ni's frantic embrace. He lifted her off her feet, he nIsdo little rushes at her, he danced round her with savage aloe, he showed ecstasy in every uncivilised and unheard-of way, asking her when she had,corao and why she had not written to tell him. " I didn't know where you were, Wil liata, my dear boy," said Anio. "Did Yon know I was here 2" "Mather! What do you think Ifve mine for exeept to see you ? AndI saw ialeerge ip town yesterday, and I've told bin' 1, and he is owning, and Wilfred and everybody; and we'll have the whole aoo lit up andt--Ilooray 1 I must »OVOX.QU EO!1e1 tow 1" was suiting the action to the word, When the window of Hatry's room, Watch was on that side of the house, was thrown sharply up by the invalid, who was pitting by it, and, his angry and am longer weak voioo called out— " Be off I Leave her alone, you irepu. dent young scamp 1 Amide, oome here, I want you. Why have you beim so long gone 2 You don't care what happens to rne I" "1111 coining," said Anulo resignedly. —a-- 4' CHAPTER XVI. Annie soon found herself in a difTusult position between the brother.in-law she liked and the husbend she disliked. William was always wanting her to be out of doors with him, Harry teased her with sulky reproaches if sho was away from him for more than half an boar at a time. The invalid oanie down to the drawing -room, which was well warmed and cheerful on the second day after William's arrival, leaning on hie brother's 01111. The ascendancy over him which Annie had gained in the siok.room she managed to maintain still ; and the artless William would make gestures of admiration and astonishment at Harry's docility to her from behind her husband's back, and there was much unpleasantness on one or two occasions when his brother caught him. William also made him- self obnoxious by calling Harry " the Ogre," sometimts out of hearing of his elder brother and sometimes within, and by assuming an intimate knowledge of Amide's um ,,enieuts during the four years of her absence from the Grange, which Harry of course did not possess. In these early days of her return Annie put off questions about the way iu which she had occupied those four years, and left Harry to imagine that she had supported herself by teaching. Her skill in conversational fence being much greater than that of either of her companions, she could. always lead the talk into what channel she would; but it was growing a delicate matter to avoid a collision between Harry and William, each of whom considered him- self to have an exclusive right to her at. tention, when the sitastion was changed by the arrival on the same day, though not by tho same train, of Wil- fred and Sir George. William was despatched by Annie to Beckham in the dog.carb to meet his oldest brother, and, when he was gone, Harry, who, under his wife's care, was getting rapidly through his convale- scence, fidgeted about the room, and at lust knocked over a gipsy-table covered with trines, ".911 right, Harry; I'll pickthom up," said Annie, hearing a muttered oath from her husband. "What are you in such a hurry for ? dohato a woman to bo iu a hurry," said. he testily, noticing unusual haste in his wife's movemeuts as she knelt on the floor gathering up the things his clumsi- ness had scattered. "19 is gettiug very late, and I most dress for dinner now George is coming back." Harry dung himself into a chair and scowled at her. " Oh, all this fuss for George ! Your appearance didn't matter for me, I sup- pose? I'm only your husband!" "lily dear Harry, if you will takethe trouble to think, you will see that, as, since you have been ill, you have not had late dinner, I have not insulted you by changing my gown to see you eat toast and mutton -broth in your dressing - gown. Besides, I ehould like to hide the falling off in my looks which you wore kind enough to tell me of from George, who will not hurt my vanity by mentioning 19, 11 he does notice any great change." "Look here, Annie 1 I didn't want to hurt your feelings; I didn't think you were vain; and—and—do you know —I really—I think sometimes, when you tell us anything to make ns laugh, for instance, you look prettier thau you ever did. You—you look so mischievous, and your eyes sparkle so, you make one want to kiss yon—only then—then, eornehow, you nevertseera to want to be kissed—at least not by me 1" he added testily. Annie burst out laughing, a little con- stralnedly perhaps. " Why, whom should I want to kiss me except my husband ?" said she careless- ly, as she bent over her occupation of fitting together two pieces of broken Dresden china. I don't know, I am sure," said Har- ry rather sulkily, feeling that his con- ciliatory speech had not met with the response it deserved—" George perhaps." " Why, surely you are not jealous of George, Harry I" she cried, laughing more naturally. I don't know that I'm not; but it wouldn't make much difference to vou if I was, would 19?" he asked; and,as, for one moment, she did not answer, he walked, with the aid of the intervening chairs, from the one on which he was sitting to one beside her, and laid his sound arra—the right—on her shouldet. " It wouldn't make any difference, would it 2" he repeated. Annie looked up rather mischievously. "I don't think it would, Harry ?'' This was a disconeerting answer to a husband. "011, very well I" Aoki he gruffly, alter a minute's pause. "Then I 800 what I a01 to expect ;" and he get hp to walk away with offended dignity ; but, not having recovered his strength yet, and having tired and excitedhimself already that afternoon, he staggered before he had gone many steps, and inareediately lie found his wife's arm in bis. "Thank you," said he, haughtily; theu he added, with the air of a martyr, " I'm not well yet, not nearly well; Ian not strong enough to walk t a Oh, -well, Harry, I've seen you walk THE B.R,USSELS POST just as unsteadily When yeti *iota (pita "1 pee, I see 1 You want zne to drink well 11' said Anine drily. and kill myindf, or ruin myself, so that Harry snatched his ani from her, and fell into the nearest choir, flushing Teo- lentiT. "Very well, ma'am ; you call nie 0 eirnnhara now! I abouldn't have thought any woman would have the heart to make fun of 0 siok husband ; but yon doe t care for anything as long as you aim laugh and soeraper about the gar- den like a groat tomboy with thab lin fornal long.legged idiot 'William 1 Yon are enough to make any husband drink, just to forget you, you unfeeling little creature, you 1" .. came now, Harry, I don't think you can say it was I drove you to drink; anulCV ypu wouia nave torgotten 'no pretty flfioltly even without that assist- ance," e a she, passing her hand sooth- ingly down his arm and speaking in a caressing voice, the charm of which al. ways told on ham when she ohose to use it. "Yon know very well that it will not require any more crimes on the part of your wicked wife, for instance, to induce you to nudo all the progress you have made towards getting well during the last few days by sitting up itroe.nai.gdlit drinking with George and Wil. " And what do you care if I do 2" " It 15 110 affair of mine, of course, and I shall not annoy you and bring down a dorm -upon my own head by interfering. To borrow your own words, it would make no difference if I did." ' " How do you know it wouldn't? Don't I always do what you wish 1" " I think the temptation to do whet I don't wish will be stronger now you will havee.,pleasanter company than a faded wif "Whoever called you ' faded '? I never did—you know I never did! And you know I like your company. I never knew you so pleasant before." "011, you don't think me pleasant pa - ways 1" " No ; because you say such nasty things—things you never used to dare to say when I was well. Now I'm ill, you think you cau say anything, because I'm not strong enough yet to thick of anything just as cutting to Bay back. But III pay you out when I get well again, clever es you are." Ho spoke in a rather irritated tone, but not ill-hu- motiredly ; she was so smiling, so care- less, that he was as much amused as annoyed by her. " I sha'n't give you a chance, because I have some very important business in London, and my duty as your nurse is over, and to -morrow I shall go to town." "And when are you coming baok ?"— excitedly. She did not answer. " When do you mean to com----"7.'---I'''e back, I say ?" he repeated, in a louder voice. Still no answer. Harry clutched his wife'arni. "Theo I shall not let you go 1 You axe not my nurse; you are my wife, and I fotbid yon to leave me again—do you hear 2 What is this business you speak of ? What is it ? I havo a right to know —and I will know 1" Annie did not attempt to remove her arm from his grasp, but looked slowly up at him with a steady, cold, firm ex- pression in her dark eyes which silen- ced him even before she spoke.. " You have a right to know, and yoa shall know. I can't tell you all now, but just this, For folio years, during which you never took the trouble toiled out whether I was starving—and I was not so very far off that sometimes—I have been working to lay the founda- tion of a career for yself—an honour- able career, I need not say, even to you. I have been put back a little, just as I Was going to make a great stride for. ward, by coming to flume you. I have fulfilled that duty now, and, now you are well, I ani only wasting my time here. You must let me go. I will come back when you please, if I can, and I willlet you know everything you wish. But roy presence, now you are all 'going to be together again, would only irritate you—akready it seems to be the cause of your quarrelling with William. You will be disgusted again with my 'learn. ed airs' and with my preaching—for I shall not be able to keep myself from uttering useless .remonstrances when I see you going on in your old way, as I know .you will, and bringing bank the fever, and making yourself ill again if I make myself ill again, you will have to nurse me." "Indeed you are mistaken," answered Annie, raising her eyes to his with spirit. " If now, after being warned, you choose rashly to put your life in danger, and to undo all the good out constant watching and nursing have done you, I shall not consider myself bound to sacrifice myself any longer to a man who could be guilty of euch foolish and selfish conduct, whether he is ray hus- band or not." "Then yon 'would leave me to die, while you went on enjoying your' career,' as you call it ?" "7 would leave you to take your ohanoe." Harry began to tremble all over, and the tears rose to his eyes. His hand re- laxed ite bold on Annie's arm, and fell down by his aide. Softened, frightened by the effect of her words, Annie clasped her little hands on his shoulder and told him not not to take her worde so serlously, that she had spoken them only because she wanted him to take care of himself and get well fast. " No, you don't—no, you don't l You want mo to diet so that yini may be free 1" said he ip a hoarse, tremulous voice, keeping his bead -turned away from her. Happily his own emotion prevented his noticing the effect of hie WOMB OD Annie, vthose cheeks flushed suddenly, and whose tongue faltered as she was about to interrupt him. He continued you may go away and get promed fox being a martyr 1 Go away—go away from MO 1 I don't want your little soft hands about me, when all the while 1 know yowl boort is hard and you hate me!" said ho, shaking her off oche. mently. Annie rose slowly and walked with downcast hood towards tlie door. But she had not shut it behind hor before her husband's voioo called her back. "Annie, Annie, come here—only one minute! I want to speak to you 1" She returned and fitood, with her eyes still down, very meekly before him. " Auuie," said. he, etretobing forward to take her hand and draw her towards him, " I didn't mean what I said just uow. I was only in fun—at least 1 didn't think what I Was saying. I—I wanted to son if you would believe inc. I know you don't went me to die ; and look here—if yon will promise not to go away yet, 7 won't sit np with George, 'and I will drink cooly Inst what you lot 100, and lal do just %%hot you tolla— an till 1 aid. well,' A Trott 11.r howl. I v. • ' • • , • • I 1 . Other hand. There 1 I swear to doltish what,,.. tell me—till I get well. ow promise not to go to London. No, you swear too,'' he said eagerly. -. "7 prorniae--" " No ; tevear." "1 swear not to go to London till you are quite well, if you dou't do anything rash. There—I hear the dog -cart. Harry, I n ',Meet w rust go to the door to meet ho?" ^v.; "George Confoof course 1" u But Annd. George I" nie was already out of the room. She was flushed with the excitement of the successful battle she had just had withber husband, and with the other excitement of meeting her eldest bro- ther-in-law, and George showed nothing but pleasure at sight of her. They came into the dratving.rooni talking brightly, and the Baronet scarcely exchanged more than a couple of sentences and a hand.shake with his surly brother, so pleased was he to find a pleasant wo- n] an again in his house. When Wilfred arrived, just before dinner, he in his turn engrossed her completely ; and at dinner these two new -comers took up Bo Much of her at- tention that the convalescent Harry, who was at dinner with the rest for the first time since his illness, began to look very black, 9,nd to find faultwith every- thing which was put before him. "7 can't oat that. How am I to hack at it with only one hand?" be growled, when tho servant offered hire some mut- ton. Shall I cut it up for yon, sir 2" "No, I wont have it ; I don't want anything at all 1" said he, looking with a frown at his wife, who turned from George to tell the servant to bring the plate to her, and dutifully cut up the mutton, which her sulky husband, without thanka, then condescended to eat. Annie had put on a very pretty pais gray silk gown with elbow -sleeves and square -cut bodice edged 'with dainty lace, and a long spray of pink azalea fastened carelessly ou one aide of the neck. She was delighted at the pleasure they all—except her morose husband, who tried hard not to laugh when his brothers did at any speech of hers that ateesed theta—evidently took in her society; and she smiled and laughed e,nd chattered and looked so charming that not one of the men could keep his eyes off her for more than a few mo- ments at a time. " Have you seen anything of the Mainwarings, Annie ?" asked George, when dinner was nearly over. "011, yes! I met Mrs. lkainwaring the other 'day with a volume of The Band of Hope Review—I don't know whether you have heard of it—under one arm. She said sbe thought of com- ing to read to Harry; if he would like it, to cheer him up." Something In Annie's demure tone get them all laughing. "7 said he would be delighted; but we didn't think too much excitement Was good for him just at first. And she asked if Sir George had any good books in his library, and I said, Oh, yes 1' and she said I ought to reivl some to him; I said I thought I ought, and I came back and read him 20o Sporting and Dramatic News all through. 011, Annie, she wouldn't have you back in her schoolroom now 1" " No indeed she would not 1" answer- ed Annie promptly. When she rose to leave the gentle. men, there was a little anxiety 131 her manner as she glanced towards her bus, band. He was sitting with his eyes fixed doggedly upon his plate, his face was already rather flustied, and his hand was round the stem of a glass of Burgundy. 5110 1311011 how little weight o word from her was likely to have now; but it was her duty to try, and she did try. As she toassed him, the put her left hand, with its one ring— her wedding -ring, which decorum now forced her to wear—lightly on his ehonlder, and BA he gave no sign, she bent down and slipped the slim white fingers gently up to his neck. He smelt the faint perfume of the azalea, on her breast, heard her quickened breath. ing as he still hesitated. " Do you remember ?" she whispered He raised his oyes, sullenly still, to .the little pleading face. She was irre- sistible at that monoent, with her emit. ing Uri and her eparkling eyes, her head a little on one aide ha entreat'. There Caine a flash from Ins eyes ; her womanly fascinatiou he4 wen foot him what his promise would have failed tO get. He got up, and, leaning on her Wight sbouldor, lot her lead him out 01 the room, Annie was so much pleased with thole unexpected little triumph that het bright huni our infooted him, pow that he was alone with her; and, as sbe dragged. the easiest chair before the dro,wing.rooin fire for him, she clattered on so that he had no time or inclination for the complaints he was going to make against his brother George's brutal in- difference to his illness, He wee much annoyed when, in a very short time, they beard the dining -room door open and the voices of the other three in the hall. "Hong them all 1 They make so =oh noise. Annie, I think Pll go to bed ; and I want you to corms and read bo mo," But George had beard the last words as he 01311(0 01. No, no, Harry 1 Go to bed by all means, if you will; but you musn't make a. victim of Annie. You have had my Lady Suobeem all to yourself fm weeks ; you must lot her shed a few rays on the rest of us now." Before Harry could make an angry reply, Annie broke in— Harry has no wish to deprive you of such a very simple pleasure ; 7 will shed my rays upon you, as you poetically term it, by playing yon the very few new pieces I beam learnt since you last heard me, George, And, Harry, you are feverish—you had better not stay up ; I havo nothing to play that you hay° not hoard, and 1 will Como up and road you to sleep by the time you are ready for me." Silo rang the bell without giving him time to answer; and Harry, who waa really too worn out to make ranch re, sistanco, grumblingly wait oil with the mount, wno tent 003003 arm to me tow. tering master. Annie went to the piano, and played one thing after another, and sang a French song whichthoy onlyhalf under• stood, but which sent them into fits of laughter, until George, who was leaning on the instrument, grew noore interested iu the tallaho was hearing with her than in the music ; and, as her fingers, from idly ple.yine. at last ceased altogether and lay on ,a0 keys, he said— " Come into the conservatory. You love ewers, aud there you will let me smoke, I know." Annie shook her Lead reluctantly. "1 mustn't, I've promised Harry to read to him. He will be past being read to and nothing but growl if I delay any loogor," said she, with resignation, as she rose slowly and shut the piano. " How you havo managed to tame the bear, though 1" said George admiringly. " Of course gratitude et courtesy is hut of the question with him; but I thought even submission was, until I saw him follow you out of the dining -room to. night. But then an archangel couldn't have resisted you as you looked at that moment," continued he, in a low voice, bending down to look into her eyes. "79 was hard to see a look like that .wasted upon such a clod." " Do you think so ?" said Annie, laughing lightly as she went up -stairs and he followed her. " Why, that is only the old story 1 It is the ' clods ' of the earth who got the benefit of all the beauty and grace and pleasant things in the world." "'Von have grown cynical, Annie. Come iu here for a few minutes and explain yourself." He led the way into the dimly•lighlied picture -gallery, where Annie and Wil- liam had had their first game of battle. dore and shuttlecock four and a half years before. She sank down upon the cushioned ottoman to which George led her, and looked gravely at him as he seated himself beside her. "It is very easy to explain," said she. " Do not all the people who spend their lives in the practice of any art, clever people generally, and capable of bard thinking as well as bard living, waste their efforts for the careless enjoyment of others who have not half their brains, or tboir courage., or their capacity? The rich parvenu who doeen't know a Rubens from a Rembrandt patronises the rising painter, and de- lights afterwards in the boast that he made that man, sir.' The wise man writes for fools to read. And the actress gives days of study to her share in a piece which the dressmaker in the pit condemns as '1037 poor stuff." It is always the same." You speak very bitterly." " Yes. For you see I range myself on the side of the hard-working capable ones. Don't you know how I have spent these last four years 2" " No, no; do tell um," said George, with a shrewd guess at her answer, bending lower over her in his interest. "7 have spent them on the stage." " The stage 1" echoed another voice. They both started and looked. round. behind them, leaning againet the wall, not far from the door, was Harry, in his dressing.gown, pole, heavy -eyed, sullen. He looked at his wife with fierce eyes and frownhig brows. "So you are an actress 1 I don't wonder you were ashamed to tell me how you passed your time." "1 was not ashamed, Harry," said Annie calmly, rising and going towards " If you think I ought to be, you have only to say a word and you shall 00001 be troubled with me again," "'Von are in a groat hurry for me to say that word, and, by Jove, for tinge I feel inclited to please you 1 An votress 1 No wonder I find you ready to listen to eon wards from any man 1 No wonder the wotds from mo which used lo set you blushing for pleasure cen't touch you nOW 1 You aro just a thing for everybody to look at—not a wife for Mel Go away ;.I would rather fall than that (TO 13)7 CONTINUED.) 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