“You know it is very wrong to excite yourself in this way, Mary. I never deny you anything it is right you should have, and you must try and be a little more reasonable.”
“Pray, are you reasonable?” she said, with a harsh, mocking laugh. “You cried for the moon when you were a child.”
“Possibly; but, you see, I don’t cry for it now. As people get older they understand that what they want is not always attainable or good for them.”
“What a bore you are!” she said rudely; and turned her back upon him forthwith.
Certainly, with all his faults, Sir Lawrence had his temper splendidly under control; for he did not even look annoyed. Perhaps he felt that he had no right to resent anything she might say, since she could never insult him half as much as he was injuring her. However this may be, he was very patient, and tried industriously to soothe and satisfy her. But Lady Gwendolyn had heard enough by this time.
She rose from her knees, cold and benumbed, and stole out of the house where she had thought to reign queen, in stealth, like a thief. How she got to Borton Station she could never remember, but she did get there, and, eventually, to the hotel, where she found Phœbe waiting for her, and evidently anxious.
“Get me to bed as quickly as you can,” said her mistress hoarsely; and not another word did she speak.
Phœbe, who did not like her looks, sat beside her for an hour; and then, as she seemed to be sleeping quietly, she went to bed. In the morning Lady Gwendolyn was very pale, but perfectly composed. Motioning Phœbe to her bedside, she said, with a little tremor in her voice:
“Phœbe, circumstances over which I have no control force me to leave Sir Lawrence for good. You have behaved exceedingly well ever since you have been in my service, and I should like to keep you with me; at the same time, I should not like to injure your prospects in any way. I shall live very quietly; I shall not even call myself by my real name. People will look suspiciously on me, perhaps; and you will hear their remarks, and feel annoyed and humiliated at being supposed to live with a lady whose character will not bear investigation. This is as certain as sorrow and pain. Are you sufficiently attached to me to brave it all?”
“Yes, my lady,” replied Phœbe, without a moment’s hesitation.