Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-18
CHAPTER XVIII.
An Offer of Marriage.


An Offer of Marriage.
"why did you give that name to the man
| ageress just now7 Mr. Wortley is dead.
| It is surely safer not to speak of himF'
Sir Eustace Hollands wife was not quite
at her ease. Her hand trembled slightly
as she poured out the tea. and little
splashed into the saucer. If she had a
difficult interview to go through, 1t was al
ways beforehand, or at the beginning of
| It, that she was most conscious of her own
| deficiencies. She was apt, therefore. to be-
| gin nervously: but she generally had gained
| confidence enough by the time the first
] few passes were over, and she had, In
sporting phrase, got warm.
~ think it's time we had our talk. II
you make false moves like that. she went
| on. what is the use of running two names
| here? If Eustace is alive, 1t is much pct
ter that Wortley should be dead
There is an alternative, of course.
"Oh. yes you can make out that they
| and sister believe that already. so the no
| ton would get a good send-off. But
| don't think should. all the same"
THAT is not the alternative, as l see 1t. -
She passed the cup over to him; she had
| filed it too full. and some more splashed
| into the saucer, as she asked with pretend
ed unconcern:
mo? Then perhaps after all, 1t Is Eu-
STAGE who is dead? And so-l'
"Wortley can easily be alive! Yes. that
| Is my notion.
| She put her elbows on the table, and her
chin between her hands, and in that posi-
| ton gave him steady stare. She had
wondered in the morning whether he was
strong enough to take his own line with
out her. Her whole present plan depended
upon the decision that he was not.
You vouched for me before those two
women as Lady Holland" she said. and
claimed you as my husband How can you
go back on that now? And how can Eu-
STAGE be dead? His mother has welcomed
him, and his wife has kissed him-how can
| he possibly be dead?'
"His mother was mistaken, and his wife
| liedr'
| She kept her attitude of intent scrutiny
| a little longer. She was thinking hard.
| forming rapid plans. and as rapidly reject
| ing them; for already she suspected that
the man had come to tell her that her lie
| of the morning would have no support from
| him. She wondered what his motive was in
refusing. and she suspected that 1t was be-
| cause of Mary. But how could he expect
| that If he confessed the fraud that he had
already practiced upon her, Mary would
| forgive him? Surely he was too deeply
committed to draw back now
You have been taking my advice" she
hazarded. land trying to make your peace
| with the girl! And though she Is angry
| with you, you have found her so charming
| that you want to throw me over! Don't
you see that the time for that was this
| morning when 1 abandoned my own plan.
| and fell In with yours, by saying that you
| were my husband?"
cit would have been better" he agreed.
| ''if had contradicted you then But you
| took me by surprise
| We'll, It's too late now!'
II don't think so
| There was short pause. Then the wom-
an asked:
'Have you thrown me over already2
| Have you made your peace with the girl?
| I don't see how it Is possible that you
| have done both"
81 have not spoken to her since I saw
| you"
She heard this with obvious relief. and
| she answered.:
"Ah! Then there is still a chance for me
| to prove to you that you must stick to me"
But" he went on steadily, 81 have writ
! ten her letter and in it I told her that
| you are not my wife"
She laughed softly and crumbled piece
| of bread between her fingers. She had
| poured herself out a cup of tea, but she
| made no pretense of wanting 1t.
| Then she said confidently. you will
have to tell her presently that what you
| wrote was a lie.''
He started, and the perspiration came out
| on his brow in beads. What did the woman
! mean2 She was limiting. and meaning him
| to understand, more than her words said?
Had the same thought which had already
| come to him and given him torture. struck
| her. too? Nay. more. had the comedy of
| the morning. when she kissed him and call
!
| tention? She had known exactly what she
| was doing, and had meant to trap him!
| Was that why she was smiling malicious
| triumph now7
| He pretended confidence which he did
| not feel as he answered, firmly:
''Of course shall do no such thing! Why
| should II"
why should you? Isn't it obvious why1
| Because those are the terms on which 1
| continue to support you. II 1t Is not true
| that you are my husband now" She
stopped and then went on: why do you
| start and look suddenly pleased?"
81 did not mean to-" he answered hon.
| estly. He was pleased and vastly relieved.
| for the thought which had tortured him
had apparently not occurred to her. But
| he had not meant to let her see his relief
''Well? Even though It is not true that
| am your husband now
| I'VE can make it true"
"ls this a proposal of marriage? he
asked. with a laugh.
He got up and took a turn across the
room Then he came back and sat down
| opposite to her.
| "And the child?" he asked, Gam IN
| adopt him as my SOM
There may be way out of that"
suppose you explain how" he said
Give me the whole plan. There are lots OF
| things that I don't understand at present.
For start. why didn't you denounce me
as an impostor this morning7"
You were glad l didn't, at the timer
|
had more reason to be sorry. But explain.
| l won't interrupt"
when Eustace died" she began
| "Oh, so he Is deadr'
He died the day after you left Oporto.
| But you said you wouldn't interrupt
| II beg your pardon. But I was afraid
you were going to deny the fact, you see,
even to me-"
when Eustace died." she repeated. 81
sat down and figured out what 1t would
| mean to me; and came to the conclusion
that. as usual II I wanted to spend the
| dollars. should have to work for them.
| There was man earning living as a
| night Waterman in one Of the wine-lojas at
| Oporto who had started life in lawyers
office in Dundee: / went to him, and got
him to tell me as much as he remembered
| of the Scotch law of inheritance in cases
| where there was no will. He didn't re-
| member very much, but he made 1t pretty
| clear to me that my claim as a widow
wouldn't amount to more than pittance
II there had been son. he told me, he
| fancied that would make difference /
wouldn't get any more for myself, but /
should get 1t to spend for my son till he
| of Tn fac