The Yale expositor., 1898-06-17

lie turned away with a laugh, but
the mischief was done; the sight of
her guests golden head bending over
her husbands hand had famed the
Jealousy Of the young wife into a flame
nor did what followed extinguish it.
The earl had laughed to himself,
thinking the occurrence a pretty bit
or by-play. He was smiling still when,
an hour afterward, his wife met him.
"Hildred," he said in a tone of gay
banter, were you jealous OF Lady
Hamilton?"
Then the idea seemed so absurd to
him that he laughed aloud. To his
surprise she grew deadly pale; her lips
quivered with emotion.
"Yes," she replied, bitterly-"I scorn
to speak falsely was jealous of her.
You may think what you like Of me-"
Still he would not be serious about
1t. He said, jestingly:
L always thought until now that
jealousy presupposed love-"
Did your" questioned his wife, with
proud indifference. 81 always thought
love presupposed perfect trust"
You are a good fencer, Hildred,"
laughed her husband; and he thought
no more Of the matter. But She did.
1t had wanted but that trifling incident
to fan her jealousy into flame.
How the hours Of that day passed
she never knew. One picture filled her
minu-that of Lady Hamilton's golden
head bending over her husbands hand.
She could not bear the thought of it..
He might not love her, but he should
not love anyone else. He should not
laugh because she was jealous, he
should not admire this fair woman
while he so cruelty neglected her. She
worked herself into a frenzy OF jealous
despair, yet was outwardly calm and
proud as usual.
The dinner-party at the castle on
that day was not a large one; many
Of the guests had left, Lord and Lady
Damers had returned home. Sir Raoul
was in his room. Lady Caraven had
dressed herself with unusual care and
attention.
During dinner she watched her hus-
band and Lady Hamilton. More than
once she saw them laughing and heard
them talking merrily. Was it OF her?
Was the earl telling her that his wife
was jealous? And was she laughing
because the very cream of the jest was
that her husband did not care for her?
Then she grew ashamed Of herself
Such suspicious were unworthy of her.
She tried to Danish them, but they
were too strong for her. Whenever
the golden head stirred, whenever the
sweet sound of musical laughter came
to her, she fancied that she was the
subject of the jest, until her jealous
pain grew intolerable and she could
bear it no longer. It was a relief to
her when she could give the signal and
the ladies could withdraw. She wanted
to be alone to think.
For the convenience of one Of the
guests who was leaving they had dined
a little earlier than usual. When the
ladies reached the drawing-room the
room was filled with rudy light from
the sun setting in the western sky.
1t would be cruel, they said, to spend
such a warm, lovely evening indoors
The gentlemen, thinking the same
thing, had hurried from their wine
saying that it would be a pity to lose
the last CLEAN of sunlight.
But before they went out someone
prayed the earl to sing one song.
Il will sing a duet" he said, eli
Lady Hamilton will help me-"
1t was useless, he thought, appealing
to his wife. The last time he had
asked her to sing with him she had re-
fused
Lady Hamilton was only too pleased
She went to the piano, and very soon
the two beautiful voices seemed to fill
the room-Lady Hamilton's clear and
sweet, the earl's rich and musical
while the young countess watched
them with longing. pitiful eyes. They
were singing about love, love that