“I have come to exonerate myself from the aspersions that in your frenzy you have cast upon me. Evelyn, I am here to prove that my wrongs are greater than yours,—and if either should crave pardon, it would best become you to sue for it at my hands. But for you, I should have been a happy wife,—blessed with a devoted husband and fond mother; and now in my loneliness I stand for vindication before her who robbed me of every earthly hope, and blotted all light, all verdure, all beauty from my life. You had known Maurice Carlyle six weeks, when you gave him your hand. I had grown up at his side,—had loved, trusted, prayed, and labored for him,—had been his promised wife for seven dreary years of toil and separation, and was counting the hours until the moment when he would lead me to the altar. Ah, Evelyn,—”
A violent spell of coughing interrupted the governess, and when it ended she did not complete the sentence.
Impatiently Mrs. Gerome motioned to her to continue, and, turning her head which had been averted, the hostess saw that her guest was endeavoring to stanch a stream of blood that trickled across her lips. Involuntarily the former started forward and drew an easy-chair close to the slender figure which leaned for support against the corner of the piano.
“Are you ill? Pray sit down.”
“It is only a hemorrhage from my lungs, which I have long had reason to expect.”
Wearily she sank into the chair, and hastily pouring a glass of water from a gilt-starred crystal carafe, standing on the centre-table, Mrs. Gerome silently offered it. As the governess drained and returned the goblet, a drop of blood that stained the rim fell on the hand of the mistress of the house.
Miss Dexter attempted to remove it with the end of her plaid shawl, but her companion drew back, and taking a 417 dainty, perfumed handkerchief from her pocket, shook out its folds and said, hastily,—
“It is of no consequence. I see your handkerchief is already saturated; will you accept mine?”
Without waiting for a reply, she laid it on the lap of the visitor, and left the room.
Soon after, a servant brought in a basin of water and towels, which she placed on the table, and then, without question or comment, withdrew.