The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-06-08
HEKNEW HE WAS RIGHT,
BY ANTHONY TROLLOPE.
CHAPTER LXII.
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"And solemnly promise me-" contin-
ned Trevelyan, not deigning to notice
Lady Rowley's interruption, THAT she
will mold no further intercourse with
that snake in the grass who wOrmed his
way into my house,-let her be humble,
and penitent, and atfectionate. and then
she shall be restored to her husband and
to her child" He said this walking up
and down the room, and waving his
hand, as though he were making a
speech thai was intended to be eloquent,
as though he had conceived that he was
to overcome his mother-iu. law by the
weight of his words and the maguif
cence of his demeanOr. And yet his de-
meanor was ridiculous, and his words
would have had no weight, had they not
tended to show Lady ROwley how little
prospect there was that she should be
able to heal this breach. He himself,
too, was so altered in appearance since
she had last seen him, bright with
the hopes of his young married happi |
ness, that she would hardly have reCOg-
nized him, had she met him in the street.
He was thin, and pale, and haggard, and
mean. And as he Stalked up Gad down
the room, it seemed to her that the very
character of the man was changed. She
had not previously known him to be
pompous, unreasonable, and absurd.
She did not answer him at once, as she
perceived that he had not finished his
address, and, after moments pause,
he continued. Lady Rowley, there is
nothing / would not have done for your
daughter,-for my wife. All that had
was hers. l did not dictate to her any
mode of life; l required from her no
sacrifices; | subjected her to no caprices;
but was determined to be master in my
own house"
al DO not think, Louis, that she has
ever denied your right to be MASTER
ITO be master in my own house, and
to be paramount in my influence over
her. SO much | had a right to demand
"Whs has denied your right3'
"She has submitted herself to the
cOunsels and to theintluences OF a man
who has endeavored to undermine me
in her affection. In saying that, make
my accusation as light against her as is
possible. / might make it much heavI-
er, and yet not sin against the truth
"This is an illusion, Louis"
"Ah, well. No doubt it becomes you
to defend your child. Was it an illusion
when he went to DevOnshire Was il
an illusion when he correspondent with
her,-contrary to my express ORDERS
both before and after thai unhallowed
Journey Lady ROwley, there must be
no more such illusions. If my wife
means to come back to me, and to have
her child in her own hands, she must be
penitent as regards the past, and obedi-
emit as regards the future
There was a wicked bitterness in that
word penitent which almost naddened
Lady Rowley. She had come to this
meeting believing that Trevelyau would
be rejoiced 10 take back his wife, if de-
tails could be arranged for his doing so
which should not subject him to the
necessity of crying, peccavi; but she
found him speaking of his wife as though
he would be doing her the greatest pos.
sible favor in allowing her to come back
to him dressed in sack cloth, and with
ashes on her head. She could understand
from what she had heard that his tone
and manner were much changed since
he obtained possess on of the child, and
that he now conceived that he had his
wife within his power. That he should
become a tyraut because he had the
power to tyrannize was not in accord.
ance with her former conception of the
mans character; but then he was so
changed that she felt that she knew
nothing of the man who now stood be.
fore her. Il cannot acknowledge that
my daughter has done anything that re-
qulres penltence," said Lady Rowlev.
81 dare say not; but my view is differ
emit"
"She cannot admit herself to he wrong
when she knows herself to be RIGHT NON
would not have her to confess To n f,rIt
the very idea of which has ALWAYS been
abhorrent to her y
"She must be crushed in spirit. Lady
Rowley, before she can again become a
pure and happy woman
"This is more than l can bear" said
Lady Rowley, now, at last, worked up
to fever OF indignation. "My daugh.
ter, sir, is as pure a woman as you have
ever known, or are likely to know. You,
who should have protected her against
the world, will some day take blame to
yourself as you remember that you have
30 cruelty maGgned her" Then she
walked away to the door, and would not
listen to the words which he was hurl-