Zula Part 16

"If she can."

He knew Mrs. Wilmer's failing as well as though he had been a man of years.

CHAPTER XII.

A CLOUD.

Two years had gone by since Scott's marriage, when one evening he entered his wife's room and found her standing before the mirror putting the finis.h.i.+ng touches to her rich and becoming toilet. Scott's brain was weary, for he had been studying all day over a very perplexing case which he had set out to win, and with very little foundation to work on. He threw himself on the soft velvet cus.h.i.+ons of the crimson sofa, placing his hand over his brow, as if to still the throbbing of his temples. Irene, dressed in a pale pink satin, with sweeping train and airy lace overdress looped up with moss rosebuds, with diamond set necklace and bracelets, and the tip of her satin slipper just in view, presented a very pretty picture to Scott, but he was somewhat surprised that she did not speak, or even smile.

"Are you going out?" he asked.

"Oh, Scott! I almost forgot that you were here."

"So I observe."

"Yes, I meant to have spoken of it before. Of course you know that this is the night of the Vand.y.k.e ball."

"I had not thought of it."

"Why do you not go?"

"I did not know that anyone wished me to," he answered.

"Oh, dear! Of course you know that I wish you to go, but you are such a recluse of late that you almost seem out of place in society."

"Perhaps I am out of place. It would almost seem that I am out of place in my wife's society."

"How you talk! You have a right to go if you wish. I suppose you were included in the invitation."

"I suppose I have a right, but I have no desire."

"Then I am not to blame."

"Who attends you?"

"Colonel Brunswick."

"That villain? You shall not go with him," he said, starting up.

"Shall not?" she repeated, turning quickly.

"Excuse me, Irene, but it is my wish that you ignore that man's society at once."

"He is one of the most stylish men of my acquaintance."

"He has no principle."

"Oh, Scott!" she said, with a toss of her head. "Really, you do put a wonderful amount of stress on virtue, and think as little of style as though you were raised among a band of gypsies."

Scott's lips closed firmly. Such words from his wife astonished him.

He arose, and trying to hide the wound which her words had caused, he said, as he came nearer:

"Irene, it is my wish that you either remain at home or allow me to be your escort."

"How you talk! That would be unreasonable, since I have promised the colonel."

"And you gave your consent without first consulting your husband?"

"Why, yes; I knew you would not think it proper; and you are so taken up with drudgery that you do not seem to care for society, and the colonel really wishes me to go."

"Are his wishes to be consulted before mine?"

"Why, no; but really, Scott, you are making a great ado about nothing.

If you went into society more you would see how very fas.h.i.+onable it is for married ladies to allow gentlemen, not their husbands, to escort them to parties."

Scott Wilmer folded his arms across his breast, and with his searching hazel eyes fixed upon his wife's face, he said:

"Irene, if you leave this house to-night with Colonel Brunswick as your escort you do so entirely against my will. I forbid the action."

She fastened her rich carriage cloak with nervous fingers, but she did not say that she would remain. She was too vain to think of giving up the pleasure of being the chosen one of the handsomest and most stylishly dressed gentleman who would be at the party. She was not possessed of enough depth of character to see how vastly superior was the man before her to the handsome, unscrupulous villain who was to bear her company. She did not realize the full value of the pearl she was casting away, and in her weakness she answered:

"I go, leaving you _bon gre, mal gre_."

"He is a bold, unscrupulous villain," said Scott, with a scornful ring in his voice.

"I guess no one thinks so but yourself," Irene answered, angrily, "and you would not if your tastes were----"

"What?"

"_Comme il faut._"

"Thank you!" said Scott, stung to the heart. "I am glad it is so, then. Are you going?"

"I see no way to avoid it now, for the colonel would be much displeased as well as disappointed."

"Very well," he said, closing his mouth in a way that Irene knew just how to interpret.

A knock was heard at the door, and Paul, with a low bow, announced a gentleman waiting in the parlor for Mrs. Wilmer.

"_Au revoir, mon cher!_" said Irene, waving her gloved hand to Scott, who stood gazing after her as she left the room.

"Good bye, Irene!" he said, in a firm, low voice. Then he heard the hall door close, and he knew his wife had gone--left his home regardless of his wishes, or the opinion of others, for a few hours of giddy pleasure.

In the last year she had grown careless of his wishes and more selfish in regard to her own. It seemed that she was growing more fond of the gay world, more desirous of flattery, and more regardless of home happiness.