The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-02-13

suiSN Aluu blIOuSll, Dut tu6g WOuiu uOI
have deemed her justified by his conduct
In taking such course as gave her name
to the whole world to tear in pieces
in the excitement of its curiosity and
baf1ed interrogation. The view which
Hilda Sunbury took OF her action
was in the Rain the view of all those
| powerful families with which Guilderoy
was connected, whether closely or dis
family, by blood or alliance. They de-
/ Tended him because he belonged to
| them and they visited her with their dis
pleasure because they thought, as his SIS
ter did, that she had been grossly at fault
throughout, that she had never known
how to obtain any influence over him,
and that, having confirmed his faults by
over-leniency to them in the first years of
their marriage, she hadenow injured him
by severity and severance when both were
ill-timed and misunderstood.
Though often when she was alone the
conscience of Hilda Sunbury smote her,
remembering the last words which she
had heard John Vernon speak to her, yet
in society she did not hesitate to excul-
pate her brother at his wifes cost. She
did not scruple to hint, with many adroit
phrases, at incompatability of temper,
want OF sympathy, coldness OF feeling,
which excused if they did not justify
Guilderoy's indifference.
Il say nothing; l blame no one," she
replied continually to her questioners;
but there was tone in the words which
implied a more injurious censure than
| any direct accusation would have done.
And when Aubrey, angered and in earn
est, told something of the truth. and took
| up the defense of his cousins wife, So
ciety listened to him with apparent defer
ence, because he was a great person in
more ways than one, and leader Of opin-
ion, both social and political; but. in his
absence, smiled and said that he had al
ways been conspicuouslv attendant on her
from the earliest days of her appearance
in the world. Without the voices of the
women of his house raised on her behalf,
he could do but little in her service; and
they at their friendliest, thought of her
as the duchess of Longleat did. who said
one day to him.
"If she would come and stay with me,
If she would hold her own at Ladysrood,
if she would lead any natural life so that
the world need not talk, | would support
her in every way. But as long as she
buries herself in this ridiculous isolation,
as long as she virtually blames herself by
her acceptance OF an utterly inviduous
position, | can do nothing for her even ii
l wished. You say that Guilderoy leaves
her; it may be SO; but to all appearances
it is she that leaves him. You say that she
has voluntarily given up her place in his
life and all her rights; do not doubt you,
but there is certainly every appearance
that it is he who has refused them to her for
some just cause: | say Just, because, were
it unjust. she would most certainly pro-
test. have always been attached to her;
first because she pleased you, and then
because she pleased me myself; but she
had placed herself in an absurdly false
position, even accepting your account OF
the causes which have led to it, and l do
not see what anyone can possibly do to
sustain her in it"
81 thought you more generous and less
conventional" said Aubrey, angered
deeply, "and think that when l gave
you my word that her conduct has not
only been blameless but admirable, you
might trust me enough to believe in my
assurance"
"My dear, do not doubt that you give
it in perfect good faith" said his sister
"Who could doubt your good faith who
knows YOU? But you have always been
infatuated about her-pardon me the word
and confess that think your chivalry
is doing her, in her present position, in
fnitely more harm than good. If she will
come and stay with me | will receive her.
What more can | say? l have always
been greatly her friend. But so long as
she condemns herself in society's opinion
by living alone In little cottage where
she is only visible to you, no one can be
of anv solid service to her. You say that
Evelyn is living openly with the Duchess
Soria 1t may be so. But the world does
not believe it, because the Duchess Soria
is a woman wise enough always to please
and pamper the world; and even if it be
ever generally known, every one will de-
clare that Lady Guilderoy could have
only one or two courses open to her
either to carry her case to the tribunals,
which is what vulgar women do, or else
to 90 on her usual routine as If she saw
nothing and heard nothing, which is what
women who are gentlewomen do all their
lives long"
"It is what she is doing"
"No; what she is doing is a romantic,
headstrong, idiotic thing, with which you
have great sympathy, but with which no
one else living will ever have the slightest
patience. She is drawing the whole
worlds attention down upon her, and no
woman can ever 90 that without being
condemned by it. When the season
comes, and she is not in her house in
IDMn, uOl III piSOO ~ NOui v LOA Al hSi
position in society, not In her home of
Ladysrood, and everyone knows that she
is living alone in the cottage her father
died in, what do you suppose that society
in general will say?"
'If it can ever say the truth by any mir
acle, it will say that she is so living be-
cause she is too sensitive and too proud to
accept the maintenance Of a man who is
unfaithful to her without secrecy or ex-
cuse."
"No; the world will say nothing of the
sort, for it does not believe in miracles.
It will take the side which is popular; it
ALWAYS takes the side which is popular,
and you know it does; it will exonerate
Guilderoy, because it has never liked her;
and, being essentially vulgar, which all
society is in our day, it will utterly refuse
to credit that any woman voluntarily sur
renders all the material pleasures of
great income and great position. When
all our maidens are brought up only to
think life worth living if they can sell
themselves for those, who will be likely to
hear with patience that Gladys alone of
her sex despises them? You know, as
we'll as do, that though you proclaimed
it in Westminster hall with sound of
trumpets, you would not find any living
creature to believe you"
al supposed that you would believe
me" said Aubrey with great anger and
some emotion.