The Irrational Knot Part 58

"d.a.m.n the rooms!" he muttered.

Marian took up her letter again.

"Do you know that he has filed a pet.i.tion for divorce?" he said, aggressively.

"Yes."

"You might have mentioned it to me. Probably you have known it for days past."

"Yes. I thought it was a matter of course."

"Or rather you did not think at nil. I suppose you would have left me in ignorance forever, if I had not heard from London myself."

"Is it of importance, then?"

"Certainly it is--of vital importance."

"Have you any other news? From whom have you heard?"

"I have received some private letters."

"Oh! I beg your pardon."

Five minutes pa.s.sed in silence. He looked out of the window, frowning.

She sat as before.

"How much longer do you intend to stay in this place?" he said, turning upon her suddenly.

"In New York?"

"This is New York, I believe."

"I think we may as well stay here as anywhere else."

"Indeed! On what grounds have you arrived at that cheering conclusion?"

Marian shrugged her shoulders. "I dont know," she said.

"Nor do I. You do not seem happy here. At least, if you are, you fail to communicate your state of mind to those about you."

"So it seems."

"What does that mean?"

"That you do not seem to be happy either."

"How in the devil's name can you expect me to be happy in this city? Do you think it is pleasant to have no alternative to the society of American men except that of a sulky woman?"

"Sholto!" said Marian, rising quickly, and looking at him in surprise.

"Spare me these airs," he said, coldly. "You will have to accustom yourself to hear the truth occasionally."

She sat down again. "I am not giving myself airs," she said, earnestly.

"I am astonished. Have I really been sulky?"

"You have been in the sulks for days past: and you are in them at this moment."

"There is some misunderstanding between us then; for you have seemed to me quite cross and out of sorts for the last week; and I thought you were out of temper when you came in just now."

"That is rather an old-fas.h.i.+oned retort."

"Sholto: I do not know whether you intend it or not; but you are speaking very slightingly to me."

He muttered something, and walked across the room and back. "I am quite clear on one point at least," he said. "It was not for this sort of thing that I crossed the Atlantic with you; and you had bettor make our relations more agreeable if you wish me to make them permanent."

"You to make them permanent? I do not understand."

"I shall not shrink from explaining myself. If your husband's suit is undefended, he will obtain a decree which will leave you a single woman in six months. Now, whatever you may think to the contrary, there is not a club in London that would hold me in any way bound to marry you after the manner in which you have behaved. Let me remind you that your future position depends on your present conduct. You have apparently forgotten it."

She looked at him; and he went back to the window.

"My husband's suit cannot be defended," she said. "Doubtless you will act according to the dictates of the London clubs."

"I do not say so," he said, turning angrily. "I shall act according to the dictates of my own common sense. And do not be too sure that the pet.i.tion will be unopposed. The law recognizes the plea of connivance."

"But it would be a false plea," said Marian, raising her voice.

"I shall not discuss that with you. Whether your husband was blind, or merely kept his eyes shut will not be decided by us. You have been warned. We will drop the subject now, if you please."

"Do you suppose," said Marian, with a bright color in her cheeks, "that after what you have said, anything could induce me to marry you?"

He was startled, and remained for a moment motionless. Then he said, in his usual cold tone, "As you please. You may think better of it. I will leave you for the present. When we meet again, you will be calmer."

"Yes," she said. "Good-bye."

Without answering, he changed his coat for a silk jacket, transferred his cigar-case to a pocket in it, and went out. When he had pa.s.sed the threshold, he hesitated, and returned.

"Why do you say good-bye?" he said, after clearing his throat uneasily.

"I do not like to leave you without saying it."

"I hope you have not misunderstood me, Marian. I did not mean that we should part."

"I know that. Nevertheless, we shall part. I will never sleep beneath the same roof with you again."

"Come!" he said, shutting the door: "this is nonsense. You are out of temper."

"So you have already told me," she said, becoming pale.