The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-17
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3 A TERRIBLE TEMPTATION {
= BY
I CHARLES READE (
CHARLES READE


My lady will be down directly"
Mary Wells then slipped into the dress
ing room, and found Lady Bassett look
Ing pale and wild. She had heard every
word.
There. he is better already. said Mary
Wells. HE shall walk In the garden
with you this Afternoon
What have YOU done? can't look hin.
in the face now. Suppose he speaks tc
me?"
He will not. I'll manage that. Yot
won't have 10 say a word. Only lister
10 what / say, and don't make a liar OF
me. He Is better already"
How Will this end?' cried Lady Bas-
sett helplessly. What shall I do?"
You must go down stairs, and not
come here for an hour at least, or you'll
spoil my work. Mr.. Angelo is in the
drawing room"
II will 60 to him"
Lady Bassett slipped out by the other
door. and II was three hours, instead OF
one before she returned.
For the first time in her life she was
afraid TO face her husband.
CHAPTER XIX
Meantime Mary Wells had long, con-
versation with her master and after that
che retired into the adjoining room, and
sat down 10 sew baby-linen clandestine.y
After a considerable time Lady Bas
sett came 10. and sinking into chair
covered her face with her hands. She had
her bonnet on.
Mary Wells looked at her with black
eyes that flashed triumph After so sur
veying her for some time she said: 81
have been at him again. and there's
change for the better already. He L.
not the same man. You so and see else. F"
Lady Bassett now ooeyed her servant;
she rose and crept like culprit into Sir
.-k n11
shaved. dressed 10 perfection. and look
ing more cheerful than she had seen him
for many a long day. All. Bella, ssio
he, you have your bonnet onfet US have
a walk in the garden.'
Lady Bassett opened her eyes. and con-
sented eagerly, though she was very
tired
They walked together: and Sir Charles
being a man that never broke his word
pat no direct question 10 Lady Bassett
but spoke cheerfully OF the future. and
told her she was his hope and his all;
she would baffle his enemy, and cheer his
desolate hearth
She blushed and looked confused and dts
tressed; then he smiled. and talked Of in
different matters. until pain in his head
stopped him; then he became confused
and putting his hand piteousiy TO his head
proposed 10 retire at once to his own
room.
Lady Bassett brought him In. and he re-
posed in silence on the sofa.
The next day. and. indeed, many days
afterward. presented similar features.
Mary Wells talked TO her master OF the
bright DAYS TO come. OF the Joy that
would All the house II all went well. and
OF the defeat in store for Richard Bassett.
She spoke OF this man with strange viru-
lence; said "she would think no more OF
sticking a knife into him than OF eating
her dinner" and in saying this she show
ed the white OF her eye In a manner truly
savage and vindictive.
To hate the same person Is a surer bond
than TO love the same person; and this
sentiment OF Mary Wells. coupled with
her uniform kindness TO himself. gave
her great influence with Sir Charles in
his present weakened condition. Moreover
the young woman had an oily persuasive
tongue; and she who pereuades us In
stronger than he who convinces us.
Thus Influenced Sir Charles walked ev-
cry day in the garden with his wife, and
forbore all direct allusion 10 her condition
though his conversation was redolent OF
IL.
He was still subject TO certain collapses
OF the intellect: but he became conscious
when they were coming on; and at the
first warning he would insist on burying
himself In his room
After some days he consented TO take
short drives with Lady Bassett In the
open carriage. This made her very Joyful
Sir Charles refused TO enter single
house. so high was his pride, and so great
his terror lest he should expose himself:
but IL was a great point gained that she
could take him about the country and
show him In the character OF a mere in
valid
Everything now looked like a cure slow
perhaps but progressive; and Lady Bas-
sett had her joyful hours. yet not without
a bitter alloy; her divininR mind asked It
self what she should say and do when
Sir Charles should be quite recovered.
This thought tormentcd her. and some-
times so goaded her that she hated Mary
Wells for her well-meant interference.
and, by natural recoil from the famil-
iarity circumstances had forced on her
treated that young woman with great
coolness and hateur
The artful girl met this with extreme
meekness and servility the only reply
she ever hazarded was an adroit one:
she would take this opportunity to say:
How much better master do get ever
since | took I'm hand to cure him."
This oblique retort seldom failed Lady
Bassett would look at her husband. and
her face would clear. and she would gem
orally end by giving Mary n collar. or a
scarf. or something
mus uiu circumstances enable the low
er nature TO play with the higher Lady
Bassetts struggles were like those Of a
bird in silken net they led TO nothing
When IL came 10 the point she could
neither do nor say anything 10 retard
his cure. Any day the court OF chancerv
get In motion by Richard Bassett might
Issue a commission de lunatic and ~
Sir Charles was not cured by that time
Richard Bassett would virtually admin
lister the estate-and that, she felt sure.
would drive Sir Charles mad for life
So there was no help for A. She feared
she writhed. she hated herself: but Sir
Chorles got better daily. and so che let
he< self drift along
Mary Wells made IL fatally easy 20 her
she was the agent Lady Bassett was
silent and passive.
After all she had n hope Of extrication.
Sir Charles once cured. she would make
him travel In Europe with her Money
would relieve her OF Mary Wells. and
Hfof lafFs q ~ 81.