A Bachelor Husband

asure when two fr

ith the vague feeling that somethi

oom with sleepy eyes, then suddenly she

falling about her shoulders, and

been married-a month of bitterness and disappointments, with onl

hind! She was conscious of a little

ys when he was not at hand? She fell b

n! I must get used to livi

ealize that when she married Chris she had burnt her boats behind her, and would never

and her eyes were misty with tears as she looked at the blue sea and the sunlight and

sh to return. She could ha

ng," said Feat

ickly, her ey

ou? It's generally

lept myself.

think he'

a little

morning train?" Feat

I think; we shall

ve you got a headache?" she asked i

lau

luxuries, but I didn't sleep

ience?" Marie s

e sunny garden. "Shall we go for a

lowed a

half sigh. "My last morning! It sounds as i

athers corrected himself gravely. "I hope it will als

choose unlucky days to go to places or do important things. I was mar

s good a day

ook he

nkingly, then laughed to cove

rstitious

sur

, and I never

ieve you are no

e had stood suddenly still, and

d woman were walking along tog

," Feathers said quietly. "

but Marie did not move. She was very pale, and the look

rather go back-they have

e way they had come, but Feat

ould be much wiser to come along an

er troubled

. why need I? Oh, d

s if it were a subje

ey have prob

in her face; then all

she followed him down to the sands, an

cursing Chris with all his heart, even while he was level-headed enough to guess that in all probability his frien

time, so hurry! Mrs. Lawless and I h

t he said; she 99 was trying desperately to recove

to the hotel, t

aid. She kept her hands clenched in the pockets of the little woolly coat sh

hingly. "It's the worst of an hotel, isn't it?

rately. She was wondering desperately if Chris had

smiled eni

d. "Life is so like that book, 'Ships t

ad it," Marie

hated them all; she went straight in to breakfast without waiting for Chris, and when he jo

over she turned to go u

more uncomfortable in his life; he knew what Marie must be thinking, and he realized that the

thout stopping

g to finis

ome wit

, and he followed

?" she asked then. "It's a pity t

ou will come with m

ook he

u; I haven't

ly safe with me; I

k her he

thank

p the few things she had not already packed

ent with morose eyes; then

hat you're thinking, s

know what

e, stop walking ab

's a lot to do,

little frock she was folding from h

on't have it! If you think I arranged to meet that infernal

you arranged to

our face at once that you were angry

off; his touch seemed to rouse all her pent-up passion a

your time with? You can go out with Mrs. Heriot all day and every day for all I care.

mb; she leaned against the en

once it was 101 aroused, as Marie knew, and something

ied to her apron strings for the rest of his life she was mistaken; he had been used to having his own way, and he was going to continue

I might just as well cut up rough and forbid you to speak to him, but I'm not such a fool; I hope I can trust you." He

and shallow of her nature. All their lives they had had these litt

standing with her face buried in her han

gave him a bad shock to see her so upset-he must have said a gr

nd put his arms round her, clumsily, but st

? Whatever it was, I didn't mean it-you know that!" He pressed her

aid humbly. "I was a brute;

om her, walking away to

fort, her voice broken by little sobbing breaths. "

ve broken down before him-he w

yes fiercely an

y, you know," she

h his hair. "It was my fault. I hope you'll forgive m

orget it, Marie C

ll forg

ghed r

out early and met Mrs. Heriot on the sands-I thought she never got up early. I swear to y

this woman could prove an amusing companion to him, whereas she herself was such a failure. The tears came again in spite of her effort

lt at fault because of his inability to comfort

or a walk," he

s paper, saw the frown on

Where is Mr

cki

t to get all the air she ca

o come out, an

nt out

ed dejectedly. Feathers was perfectly well aware that something was w

to get mixed up with women

e sea, and his face changed a

een getting mixe

r that I know of! I

I s

s eyes looked grim; he knew that if he waited Chri

s suddenly lighted upon a great and original disco

k the ashes from his pip

he said quietly. "After all,

eone else," said

a little

" said Feather

the promenade to the sands below, a

would marry a wom

mouth as if to speak, but clo

did not want to quarrel with Chris, and yet he kne

back to town?" Chris

hers looked at Chris quizzically. "Suppose you'

s st

ushed angrily. "What do you mean- be

a difference." Fea

sensible girl-dash it! I'

at's the

deuce do

ster to you, but a wife," Feathers said quietly. "Also, I suppose that when you were kids

ghed in a

ay no matter at what inconvenience to others, he was quite unconscious of the fact; he really thought he was rather an unselfish man; he cert

d women, my dear cha

ooked at h

u?" he

ed rather

want to. I prefer a man's company any day to a woman's, y

a little

anyway?" he asked, with a rathe

right," he added lamely. He stopped, and bared his head to

r was 105 staggering across the lounge with Marie's luggage.

aid, "They turn you out of your rooms in a

there in the window.

something in her face, too, that pierced his heart like

would rob him of his friend, but in the last three weeks something seemed to ha

d there until he knew that lunch must

g. Marie was looking anxiously towards the door as he came

hris demanded. "We're ju

ave a pleasant journey back," he said. The words sounded absurdly fo

u, I hope

Heriot was close by, dressed in a very smart tweed co

t Chris comm

old London! Don't you wish you wer

ghed, and hel

bye and-what do people say?-u

hands wi

ing, and I'm so glad y

i, his rather shabby slouch hat tilted over

turned

ye, Mr.

nd in his big paw, squeezed it and let it

had been rather friendly with Chri

herio! Don't forget to look

driver in

oo much time for

k. She had been unhappy here, and yet-something within her shrank from the thought of leaving it all behind. She had grown to dread the future. In

ed down the road Mrs. H

had any lun

ot hungry," he

as crowded with people, laughing and chattering together, and

t for three weeks. I don't r

107 lounge as he went slowly up the stairs to his room; strange

* * *

station, Chris looked across at hi

end of our honeymo

akdown of the morning and she answered quiet

inions diffe

ok no

"so I suppose that's why I enjoyed everything so much

not stay

week or two, till som

n a magazine he

e asked. "I want you to please yourself in e

e went on casually. "I'm not at all sure that it wo

breath with a lit

m on?" sh

d some pretty good times there, and they migh

es

you to do as you like, you know-have your own friends, and go a

pidly; then, "I suppose f

will-it wasn't 108 necessary; but, of cour

ere money matter? It could not buy for he

he sea, for as they neared London the sky grew overcast

had traveled this way was when she was

s looked exactly the same, no older, no sadde

l come and see us soon

s la

-easy life; he'd hate it if Aunt Madge expec

supposed that she could not expect

Dorothy, full of go and a great sportswoman, Chris would at least have been pl

n; a crowd of people had come up on their

an to get

time we should arrive?" he aske

n I wrote," Marie answered anxiously. "I am sur

d inclined

my own, and be independe

d Chris slammed the door and sat down

traveling,

at him in

used to do a great deal bef

lau

alf a dozen trunks along. It's the luggage that's such a bother." He sat up

ean?" But she

ided h

t, but it's just as well for us both to tell the sa

ll her anything. Why should I? It

ored a

at is your wish;

es

morning. I lost my temper; I ought

orgotten," she as

ace c

t the old lady to think t

e scene in her room that morning had been the first st

e window with a r

cheerily. "And there

, and turned to see about the lug

hester's arms and fervently kissed. "How glad I a

er again to end further questioning, and

an eternity since that Sunday afternoon when Chris had asked her to go for a walk with

felt now that ever since she had been going backwards, retreating

uring out tea and t

of course I know you will get a house of your own before long-

ear, th

poor little failure, and Miss Chester looked up qu

n when she and Chris were alone for a

told me how very ill Marie was

to stay in her room for a few days of course, but

hing of her, and her poor little face is all eyes! She loo

led rathe

me that she was 111 all right, and I think she is.

d perhaps I notice the change more than you do. Chris--"

Aunt M

here,

se from her chair, and, laying her hands on h

g wrong, Chris? You'

d kissed her as Marie Celeste had