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Chapter X. The Arrest
Ibelievetherewassometragedyconnectedwithherdeath—shetookanoverdoseofsomesleepingdraughtbymistake.Howeverthatmaybe,myfatherwasbroken-hearted.Shortlyafterwards,hewentintotheConsularService.Everywherehewent,Iwentwithhim.WhenIwastwenty-three,Ihadbeennearlyallovertheworld.Itwasasplendidlife—Ilovedit.”
Therewasasmileonherface,andherheadwasthrownback.Sheseemedlivinginthememoryofthoseoldgladdays.
“Thenmyfatherdied.Heleftmeverybadlyoff.IhadtogoandlivewithsomeoldauntsinYorkshire.”Sheshuddered.“YouwillunderstandmewhenIsaythatitwasadeadlylifeforagirlbroughtupasIhadbeen.Thenarrowness,thedeadlymonotonyofit,almostdrovememad.”Shepausedaminute,andaddedinadifferenttone:“AndthenImetJohnCavendish.”
“Yes?”
“Youcanimaginethat,frommyaunts’pointofview,itwasaverygoodmatchforme.ButIcanhonestlysayitwasnotthisfactwhichweighedwithme.No,hewassimplyawayofescapefromtheinsufferablemonotonyofmylife.”
Isaidnothing,andafteramoment,shewenton:
“Don’tmisunderstandme.Iwasquitehonestwithhim.Itoldhim,whatwastrue,thatIlikedhimverymuch,thatIhopedtocometolikehimmore,butthatIwasnotinanywaywhattheworldcalls‘inlove’withhim.Hedeclaredthatthatsatisfiedhim,andso—weweremarried.”
Shewaitedalongtime,alittlefrownhadgatheredonherforehead.Sheseemedtobelookingbackearnestlyintothosepastdays.
