Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-03-28

could do no less; and OF course, TO
pay my respects to your husband,
my heretofore acquaintance.
But o, Penelope, th'st look sick and
sorryl'
~ am heartsick, that's ALL" said
she.
They could see in each other an
emotion which neither wished to en-
press, and they stood thus long
time with tears in their eyes.
"He does not treat zee well Ihear,"
said Sir William in u low voice.
MAY God in Heaven forgive him;
but it il asking n great dealV'
"Hush, hush" said she hastily.
"Nay, but will speak what may
honestly say" he answered. 81 am
not under yourroof, and my tongue
is free. Way didst not wait for me,
Penelope, or send To me a more
overt letter? would have Travelled
night and day to come"
''ToO late, William; you must not
ask it, )" said she endeavoring to quiet
him ms in old times. "My husband
just now is unwell. He will grow
better in day or two, maybe. You
must call again and see him before
you leave CnsterbridGe"
AS she said this their eyes met
Each were thinking of her lightsome
words about taking them in turn;
each thought that two-thirds of that
4 promise bad been fulfilled. But, as
fitwere unpleasant to her that this
'recollection should have arisen, she
spoke again quickly; "Come again
in n day or two, when my husband
will be we'll enough to see you"
Sir William departed without en-
tering the house, and she returned to
Sir Johns chamber. He. rising from
his pillow. said, "to whom hast thou
been talking, wife, in the courtyard?
| heard voices there"
She hesitated, and he repeated the
question more impatiently.
81 do not wish to tell you now"
said She
"But | WOOL know!" said he.
Then she answered, "Sir William
Hervy."
"By CT I thought as much!'
cried Sir John, drops OF Precipitation
standing on his white face. "A skulk-
ing villain A sick mans ears are
keen, my lady. | heard that they
were lover-like tones, and he called
zee by your Christian name. These
be your intrigues my lady, when j
am off my legs nwhilel'
ION my honor cried she, "you do
me wrong. | swear i did not
know of his comingi"
"Swear as you will" said SirJohn n,
81 don't believe 'ee." And with this
he tainted her and worked himself
into n greater passion, which much
increased his illness His lady sat
still, brooding. There was that up
OH her face which had seldom been
there since her marriage, and she
seemed to think anew of wharf she
had SO lightly said ia the days other
freedom, when her three lovers were
one and all coveting her hnnd. II
began mt the wrong end of them, {"
she murmured. "My God-that did
Ip'
"What?" said he
Nothing" said she. ] spoke to
myself only"
1t was something strange that
after this day she weat about the
house with even u sadGer face than
|. usual, her churlish husband grew
} worse, and, what was more, TO the
surprise of all, though to the regret
OF few. he died fortnight later.
Sir William had not called upon him
as he had promised, having received
a private communication from Lady
Penelope, frankly informing him
that to do so would Zoe inadvisable by
reason of her husbands temper:
Now when Sir John was gone and
his remains carried to his family
burying place in another part0f Eng
land, the lady began in due time to
wonder whittier Sir William had be-
taken himself But she had been
cured Of precipitaney. If ever woman
were, and was prepared to wait her
whole lifetime widow if the said
Sir Willinm should not reappear.
Her life was now passed mostly with
in the walls, or in Lromenading be
tween the peasaunee and the bowling
green, and she very seldom went
even so far rs the high road which
then skirted the grounds ON the
north, though it has now, and for
many years, been diverted to the
south side. Her patience was re-
awarded, (if love be in any case n re-
gward;) for one day, many months
latter her second husbands death, a
messenger arrived at her gate with
rthe intelligence that Sir William
1Eervy was again in Casterbidge and
would be glad to know if it were her
pleasure that he should wait upon
her.
Ii need hardly be said that per-
mission was joyfully granted, and
within two hours her lover stood be-
fereEher. more thoughtful man than
formerly, but in all essential respects
the same man, generous, modest to
diffidence, and sincere. The reserve
whichwomanly .decorum threw over
herlma1ner was but too obviously
artificial. and when he said, The
-. n