She was too fond of, too engrossed with, and by, her husband, to be piqued by my cool remarks. She was not a flirt--I could see that. She had acted the coquette to suit her own purpose: and that being served, she had torn up the mask.
“I hope you will like Theodore,” she said, earnestly. “I know you despised him, but I daresay you were prejudiced, because you suspected I preferred him to you. Did you notice that he has taken off his ring, Charlie?”
“He has, then; and his hand is wonderfully improved. Oh, he is so affectionate! some of these days mamma will feel heartily ashamed of herself for treating him so badly.”
“No doubt--but still your mother has a right to regard your elopement as a grievance.”
“I never would have eloped hadn’t mamma prevented Theodore from seeing me, and set her face so passionately against our marriage. She forgets that I have known Theodore for over three years, and that we have loved each other for two years out of that time. I got weary, Charlie, of having to meet him stealthily, and of carrying a heavy secret about; and I was driven into running away when I saw how earnestly mamma was working to bring about my marriage with you.”
“One question, Conny; do you remember one Sunday night leaving me hurriedly on hearing the clock strike seven?”
“Yes. I went to meet Theodore. Oh, Charlie, how I hated you for stopping at home that evening!”
“And on that evening I asked you to marry me!” I exclaimed, with a laugh like a groan. “What fools men sometimes make of themselves! But never mind. I’ve pulled the knife out of my side--the wound, I say, is healed. This is my little folly--but the farce is played out, and I am obliged to you for letting the curtain fall, and turning us all out before the tragedy began. Let us join the others. If your husband and I are to love each other, I mustn’t begin by making him jealous.”
“One word, Charlie--what do you think of Theresa?”
“I like her very much,” I answered, looking into those blue eyes of hers, in whose depths I had so often sank out of sight of common sense.
“That confession makes me happy,” said she; “for it satisfies me that I have not betrayed _so very devoted_ a heart, after all!”
A scream, followed by a gurgle! Good heavens! my aunt was in hysterics again! My hat was within reach of my hand; two strides would take me to the door.
