Chapter V

           AfteronlyoneweekoftravellinginScotland,mylordandmyladyreturnedunexpectedlytoLondon.IntroducedtothemountainsandlakesoftheHighlands,herladyshippositivelydeclinedtoimproveheracquaintancewiththem.Whenshewasaskedforherreason,sheansweredwithaRomanbrevity,’IhaveseenSwitzerland.’

           Foraweekmore,thenewly-marriedcoupleremainedinLondon,inthestrictestretirement.OnonedayinthatweekthenursereturnedinastateofmostuncustomaryexcitementfromanerrandonwhichAgneshadsenther.Passingthedoorofafashionabledentist,shehadmetLordMontbarryhimselfjustleavingthehouse.Thegoodwoman’sreportdescribedhim,withmaliciouspleasure,aslookingwretchedlyill.’Hischeeksaregettinghollow,mydear,andhisbeardisturninggrey.Ihopethedentisthurthim!’

           Knowinghowheartilyherfaithfuloldservanthatedthemanwhohaddesertedher,Agnesmadedueallowanceforalargeinfusionofexaggerationinthepicturepresentedtoher.Themainimpressionproducedonhermindwasanimpressionofnervousuneasiness.IfshetrustedherselfinthestreetsbydaylightwhileLordMontbarryremainedinLondon,howcouldshebesurethathisnextchance-meetingmightnotbeameetingwithherself?Shewaitedathome,privatelyashamedofherownundignifiedconduct,forthenexttwodays.OnthethirddaythefashionableintelligenceofthenewspapersannouncedthedepartureofLordandLadyMontbarryforParis,ontheirwaytoItaly.

           Mrs.