Chapter 75

           "Lesentimentdelafaussete’desplaisirspresents,etl’ignorancedelavanitedesplaisirsabsents,causentl’inconstance."—PASCAL.

           Rosamondhadagleamofreturningcheerfulnesswhenthehousewasfreedfromthethreateningfigure,andwhenallthedisagreeablecreditorswerepaid.Butshewasnotjoyous:hermarriedlifehadfulfillednoneofherhopes,andhadbeenquitespoiledforherimagination.Inthisbriefintervalofcalm,Lydgate,rememberingthathehadoftenbeenstormyinhishoursofperturbation,andmindfulofthepainRosamondhadhadtobear,wascarefullygentletowardsher;buthe,too,hadlostsomeofhisoldspirit,andhestillfeltitnecessarytorefertoaneconomicalchangeintheirwayoflivingasamatterofcourse,tryingtoreconcilehertoitgradually,andrepressinghisangerwhensheansweredbywishingthathewouldgotoliveinLondon.Whenshedidnotmakethisanswer,shelistenedlanguidly,andwonderedwhatshehadthatwasworthlivingfor.Thehardandcontemptuouswordswhichhadfallenfromherhusbandinhisangerhaddeeplyoffendedthatvanitywhichhehadatfirstcalledintoactiveenjoyment;andwhatsheregardedashisperversewayoflookingatthings,keptupasecretrepulsion,whichmadeherreceiveallhistendernessasapoorsubstituteforthehappinesshehadfailedtogiveher.