Beatrice Boville and Other Stories

ll to leave Lemongenseidlitz together in a fortnight's time for old

ing. "Beatrice is very charming, of course, but she is not at al

ous, but, as her impulses are always generous, that doesn't matter much. She is only fiery at injustice, and, for myself, I prefer a woman who can stand up fo

m much obliged for your defence; I couldn't help hearing it as I stood in the balcony, and I wish very

d softly, and her eyes unconsciously sought

e? A proper self-reliance is an indispensable ground-work to any success. If you cannot rely upon yourself, upon your power to jud

own self

ollow, as the

then be false

e handwriting upon it. She broke it open, and read it hastily, an oddly troubled, worried look

etter to annoy you, Beatrice

ily, I thought-and crush

l me, my darling, is it anything that vexes or

vously for her, and tore

rice?" he said again, with a

window into the street below. The shadow grew darker in his face; he bent his head in acquie

marriage whatever there is after," sneered his s

espected his wife suffer curiosity or suspicion to enter into him. If he do, he h

m, and when he bade Beatrice good night, standing alone with her in the little

you not let me see th

t him as fearle

he note was from, and what it was about, a

soon will be my wife. It is inconceivable to me why you should need or desire any. I

ked at him i

nothing either in the note that concerns you, or that you would wish me to tell you. In a few days you shall know all that was in it, but I ask you as a kindness not to press me now. Surely you do not think me such a chi

s, unshadowed regard, her head thrown a little back, and her attit

led child, Beatrice. You

e hated being called a spoiled child, s

way, have I your f

thorn rankled à ravir; for even as he pressed his goodnight kisses on her lips, he thought, restlessly, "Shal

something white starred with gold, and round her hair she had a little band of pearls of Earlscourt's gift. I never saw her look better, specially when her cheeks flushed

she said, with c

Ernest, I want

ngth he so rarely let her see. Then he drew her hand through his arm, and led her down the stairs; and, as I laughed to find

y, and ministerial-on all sorts of questions, most of which she could handle nearly as well as they;) and about the middle of the evening, while she was waltzing with some man or other who had begged to be introduced to her, Earlscourt left the bal

She is with Lady Mechlin, of c

r voice s

u found her the other night, and see if C

his way through the crowd, he went in through several other apartments leading off to the right, and involuntarily I followed him, to see what the malicious whisper of the pink domino had meant. Earlscourt lifted the curtain that parted the anteroom from the other chamber-lifted it to see Beatrice Boville, as the pink domino had prophesied, and not alone! With her was a man, masked, but about Earlscou

I am not to be blinded by it again. I h

till. Listen

add falsehood

, and even in his bitterest anger Earlscourt would never have been ungentle to a woman. That word acted like an incantation on her, the bl

es of late you have u

ecause you

upon her cheeks, her lips curved into scornful anger.

Lord Earlscourt? Do you beli

n I believe?" he muttered,

gain, fiercely, and he answe

him interviews that you conceal from me, having letters that you destroy, doubtless receiving caresses that you take care are unwitnessed; while you dare to smile in my f

r bright, frank, fearless face grew almost as hard and cold as his, while her teeth were set t

e part from this hour, if you desire it. My honor is as dear to me as your

eatrice, what a

er you

fect of all actresses, that your art is the greatest of all sins, the art that clothes it

still the victory; her eyes glittered, an

u find legal evidence of innocence; convicted, if there be a link wanting. If you choose to trust me, I have told you

ful how well his pride chained down all evidence of suffering;

and knelt at my feet, I would not make you my wife after the art and the lies with which you

glittering, her brow crimson, her whole attitude defiant, wronged, and unyielding. Earlscourt passed me, his face

eaven's sake, wh

large eyes on

ve what your

d her as

There is some

my arm, i

ll what I tell to you while I live. Pro

or, I prom

and wanted to force himself on him, and borrow money of him, and-" She stopped, her face was crimson, but she went on, passionately. "All my efforts, of course, were to keep them apart, to spare my father such degradation, and your cousin such an application. I could not tell Lord Earlscourt, for he is generous as the winds, and I knew what he would

why not have told

silence with a pa

but once suspected, I could find no happiness with him. His bitter words are stamped into my heart. I shall never forget-I doubt if I shall ever forgive-them. I can bear anything but injustice or misconception. If any doubt me, they are free to do so; theirs is the sin, not mine. As he has sown so must he reap, and so must I!" A low, gasping sob choked her voice, but she stood like a little Pyth

gone-where he did not leave word. So my presentiment was verified; the pride of both had come in conflict, and the pride of neither had succumbed. How long it would sustain and satisfy them, I could not guess;

ne, by

fallen ere

aming eyes, and her fearless, scornful, haughty anguish, as she had stood b