Пробный камень
VIII
Hetookasympatheticviewofthenecessityofnewgowns,hegaveherasetoffursatChristmas,andbeforetheNewYeartheyhadagreedontheobligationofaddingaparlour-maidtotheirsmallestablishment.
ProvidencetheverynextdayhastenedtojustifythismeasurebyplacingonGlennard’sbreakfast-plateanenvelopebearingthenameofthepublisherstowhomhehadsoldMrs.Aubyn’sletters.Ithappenedtobetheonlylettertheearlyposthadbrought,andheglancedacrossthetableathiswife,whohadcomedownbeforehimandhadprobablylaidtheenvelopeonhisplate.Shewasnotthewomantoaskawkwardquestions,buthefelttheconjectureofherglance,andhewasdebatingwhethertoaffectsurpriseatthereceiptoftheletter,ortopassitoffasabusinesscommunicationthathadstrayedtohishouse,whenacheckfellfromtheenvelope.Itwastheroyaltyonthefirsteditionoftheletters.Hisfirstfeelingwasoneofsimplesatisfaction.Themoneyhadcomewithsuchinfernalopportunenessthathecouldnothelpwelcomingit.Beforelong,too,therewouldbemore;heknewthebookwasstillsellingfarbeyondthepublisher’sprevisions.Heputthecheckinhispocketandlefttheroomwithoutlookingathiswife.
Onthewaytohisofficethehabitualreactionsetin.Themoneyhehadreceivedwasthefirsttangiblereminderthathewaslivingonthesaleofhisself-esteem.
