Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-09-17
CHAPTER III


Come TO this corner, Trixy. and let
us have quiet talk before the men ar
rive from the dining room. hope your
husband is duly grateful to me for al
lowing him off this social ordeal. Ex-
cept perhaps John 1 don't think there
Is a person here fit to discuss things
with him.
ooh, Mr.. Marsden does not care one
straw whether they know his subjects
or not so long as people will listen to
him, and I'm sure he was quite eager
TO come, but wanted Godfrey to have
a little pleasure. I'm so sorry for Door
Godfrey" And Mrs. Marsden settled
herself down to condolences. "You know
he lost all his money two years ago
through no fault of his own. 1t was
simply the stupidity of his partner, who
was quite a common man and could not
carry out Godfrey's plans.
my husband might have helped the
firm through its difficulty, but he
was quite obstinate and very unkind
also. He spoke as if Godfrey had been
careless and laz-, when the poor fellow
really injured his health and had to go
TO Brighton for two months to recruit. -
Yes, remember" put in Mrs. Les
lie. 1--WE happened 10 be at the Metro
pole one week end, and Godfrey looked
utterly jaded.''
You have no idea how much he suf
fered, Florrie, and how beautifully he
bore the trial Why, had it not been for
mo he would not have had money TO
pay his hotel bill, and that was dread
full change for man like him. He haz
always been very proud and much pet
ted by people.
The poor fellow has never been able
20 find = suitable post since, although
he spends days in the city among his
old friends, and can sec how it Ia toll
ing ON him And-Florris, wouldn &
mention it to any one except an old
friend-Mr. Marsden has not made our
house pleasant to poor Godfrey
You don't mean to say that he-rV-
fleets ON his misfortunes
Doesn't he9 It's simply disgusting
what he viii say at times. Only yester-
day morning-this is absolutely be-
tween you and me; one must have some
confidant-Godfrey made some remark
IN fun about the cut of Tom coat He
will not go, you know, do what I like,
to a proper tailor.
Godfrey is certainly much better
dressed, said Mrs Leslie ethan either
of our husbands
Perhaps it was that made Tom. an
cry, but at any rate he said quite
shortly, L can't afford to dress better,
and of course Godfrey knew what he
meant 1t was cruel in the circum-
stances, for many men spend far more
on their clothes than Godfrey He sim
ply gives his mind to the matter and
takes care of his things. He Will spend
any time selecting a color or getting a
coat fitted -
is your brother quite-dependent on
his friends Trixy?''
Eyes, in the meantime. and that is
the reason why we ought to be the
more considerate / wished to settle
half my income on him, but it is only
a third Of what it used to be-some-
thing to do with Investments has re-
duced it-and Mr.. Marsden would not
hear Of such thing. He allows God
frey 500 year, but that hardly keeps
him in clothes and pocket money!
"Stil, don't you think it's all God
frey could expect?'' And Mrs. Leslie was
~~-~~~@~~N@
man. Few husbands would do as much
for brother-in-law"
"Oh, of course he does it for my
sake and he means to be kind But.
Florrie, MIR. Marsden is SO careful. and
saving, always speaking as if we were
poor and had to lay up for the future,
while / know he has a large income
and a sure business -
"Why, he would not leave that hor-
rid street In Highbury, say what l
could, and owe it to Godfrey that we
have come to Putney: When Tom went
out to Alexandria, my brother simply
took our present house and had it fur
nished in Mr.. Marsden's name, and so
when he came home from Alexandria
we were established In the cottage"