john charlock had finished his breakfast and was busy with his correspondence. he looked up presently as his wife came in. the tall, slender figure looked graceful and attractive in the thin black dress she was wearing, and charlock's artistic eye was pleased with the picture. he knew that kate's gown was an expensive one, and that there was about it a marked, if subdued, suggestion of festivity. his brows contracted. surely that dress must have been ordered since he had spoken of the need of economy.
"your grief is chastened," he said. "it is good to see how you are bearing up under your crushing sorrow. you have come to the conclusion that it is your duty not to repine. well, what is it? going off somewhere for the day? a little innocent enjoyment will do you no harm."
"i was thinking of it," kate charlock said coldly. "i am going to southampton to spend the day with some friends. but i shall be back in time for dinner."
charlock rubbed his hands together slowly. there was a peculiar smile upon his rugged face.
"oh, i am glad to hear that," he said. "whatever you do, don't forget to come back to dinner, because i have a pleasant surprise awaiting you. i was not sure until i got my letter this morning, but now all doubt is removed. good-bye and a pleasant day to you. make the most of your chances."
kate charlock asked no questions. she had no curiosity concerning her husband's meaning. she came back in the cool of the evening. she passed through the lodge gates and noted the untidy state of the drive. the place was littered here and there with straw and shavings. the marks of the wheels of a heavy waggon were to be plainly seen on the side of the lawn. kate was vexed, for she had always prided herself upon the symmetry and tidiness of her garden. she looked towards the gardener's lodge, and, to her surprise, observed that it was empty.
her heart sank with a foreboding of coming evil as she quickened her pace towards the house. here the litter increased. shavings and scraps of paper had blown across the velvet lawn, a broken packing-case or two stood by the front door. with feelings of alarm and agitation, kate charlock looked up at the long rows of blank windows, which seemed to be staring her out of countenance. the window-boxes with their brilliant flowers had gone and the fine lace curtains and the rose-tinted silk blinds had vanished. where a few hours before had been the picture of a refined english home was now mere chaos and desolation. with faltering footsteps and trembling limbs, kate charlock passed through the front door, which stood wide open for all the world to enter.
her footsteps echoed on the bare boards. more by instinct than anything else, she called her husband by name. she could hear her voice echoing from room to room. she knew now that the place was absolutely and entirely bare. then there was the sound of an answering footfall and john charlock stood by the side of his wife in the dismantled drawing-room.
"well," he said, "and what do you think of it? i promised you a surprise, and here it is. for days i have been expecting the creditor who holds the bill of sale to carry out his threat and remove everything. this morning he informed me what he was going to do, and he has done it. save your own belongings, which are packed away in your dressing-room, the house is empty. i didn't tell you this before, because i did not wish to spoil your holiday. but you will see that it is impossible to remain. fortunately, the cottage is ready. now, if you will dry your eyes and try to play the woman, we will go off together where we can have a roof over our heads and no more of this sickening anxiety for the future. come."
charlock held out his hand, but the woman shrank from him. there was terror as well as grief in her eyes. she shuddered with loathing from head to foot. she could not do it. come what might, she could not do it. in her heart of hearts she had never expected such a crushing blow. it was so like john charlock to spring it on her in this cruel fashion.
"no," she said, as she wiped the tears angrily from her cheeks. "between you and me there is an end of all things. i am not coming with you. if i were starving at this moment i would decline to cross the threshold of your cottage. oh, you need not worry. i shall make a living somehow. to-night i shall stay with mrs. bromley-martin and ask her advice and assistance. henceforward our lives shall be spent apart."
"and that is your last word?" charlock asked.
"i have no more to say, except good-bye."
charlock turned and strode resolutely from the house. there was a queer smile on his face, though his heart was hot and angry. he passed out through the gates in the direction of his cottage. he gave no heed to his wife standing in the deserted home. and he had gone out of her mind directly.
what was she to do? how would the next chapter in the story read? she had spoken bravely enough about her friend mrs. bromley-martin, but she knew in her heart of hearts how shallow and insincere all the so-called friendships in her own set were. still, she was not penniless. her husband had told her where she would find all her belongings, and her jewels were worth some hundreds of pounds. she would gather those together and go and stay at a hotel for the night. she was still debating the matter in her mind when she heard footsteps in the hall, and her courage deserted her for the moment. she drew a breath of something more than relief as arnold rent came forward.
"this is almost providential," she sighed. "how did you come to know that i was in such sore need of you?"
"that was prosaic enough," rent said, with a strange thrill in his voice. "i came to see your husband by appointment. he promised me an answer to my arguments, but i did not expect to get it in such a dramatic way as this. still, i was prepared for what i have found, because i met mrs. bromley-martin just now and she seems to know everything. she is very sorry for you, but when i suggested that she should place her house at your disposal for a few days, she flatly refused, saying that her house was already too full. my dear mrs. charlock, what do you propose to do? how can i help you?"
kate charlock threw up her hands in despair.
"i am stunned," she said. "i am overwhelmed by this cruel stroke. now you see what manner of man my husband is. now you see the creature that i have had to put up with. a few minutes since he taunted me with my extravagance and, with a sneer on his lips, offered me the shelter of his cottage. i don't profess to have more courage than most women, but the worm will turn at last, and i refused to go. he has left me nothing but my belongings, nothing but this desolate house. ah, it is a true saying that it is always the woman who pays."
a simulated indignation swept over arnold rent. then his heart softened to tenderness and love and pity. why should this beautiful woman be left alone in the world? why should he not help her? good heavens, how blind john charlock must be! thousands of good men would give all they possessed to have the affection of a creature like this. she stood there in a supplicating attitude, her large, pathetic eyes turned on rent. she was asking him as plainly as words could speak for counsel. passionate sobs were breaking from her. she held out her hands to rent, murmuring piteously that he was the only friend she had in all the wide world. he caught those hands in a firm grip. he forgot everything in the delirious excitement of the moment. once more the woman was in his arms, his lips were pressed to hers, and she was sobbing on his shoulder.
"oh, i know this is terribly wrong," she murmured. "but i am so miserable and so helpless. what can i do? what am i good for, except to be the faithful wife and companion of some good man who can understand me and whose heart is entirely mine? but that is a dream. tell me, arnold, that you are not ashamed of my impulsive action."
rent made no reply for the moment. his mind was moving quickly. he looked eagerly and vividly into the future. he could see his airy castles vanishing before the fragrant breath of the woman who had abandoned herself to his embrace. in an instant all was gone to the winds, and a mere man, palpitating and trembling with sheer humanity, was holding in his arms that for which he was going to forfeit the world.
"not another word," he whispered hoarsely. "i am glad i came here to-night, both for your sake and mine. you shall have no more anxiety for the future. we will live for that future, you and me. dearest, i could not let you go. say you will let me act for you. your honour is safe in my hands."
