She dried her eyes. “He is not in a temper now. I could bear that! But he says it is all his fault for having married me, and we cannot go on in this manner, and his mind is made up that I must go to Sheringham Place so that his mother may teach me — may teach me — But I would sooner die!”
“Sheringham Place at this season?” said Ferdy, horrified. “I wouldn’t do that, Kitten! Wouldn’t care for it at all! Can’t think how Sherry came to take such a notion into his head. Absurd, that’s what it is! Absurd! Tell you what: I’ll go and have a word with Sherry. Agitation of the moment, you know: probably never thought what the place is like in winter.”
“It would be of no avail. I implored him not to send me there in disgrace, but he would not heed me. He said his mind was made up, and he should take me there tomorrow. He means to do so. But he shan’t, he shan’t! Lady Sheringham hates me, and she will tell everyone what I have done, and how I have ruined Sherry’s life, and when I saw his face tonight I knew that it was true! Oh, Gil, oh, Gil!”
“Did Sherry say that?” demanded George fiercely.
“No, no, but you do not know the whole! all the stupid things I have done, and now this! I can see that he is quite tired of it all, and wishes he had never run off with me. And I think he means to try to make the best of it, and he believes his mother will help him, but she will not! So I made up my mind to go away, but that I did not know where to go, and so I came to you, Gil, because I thought you would advise me.”
“But, Kitten, you can’t leave Sherry like that!” protested Ferdy. “I mean to say — married him — better or worse! Not the thing at all!”
“I know, but perhaps he will divorce me, and then he can be comfortable again,” explained Hero, on a forlorn sob.
“Good God, no!” cried Ferdy, shocked. “Never had anything like that in our family, Kitten! Besides — well, what I mean is, no reason to divorce you!”
George released the chair-back and strode purposefully to the door. “Where’s the sense in talking? I’m going to find Sherry, and when I do find him — ”
“Oh no, George! Pray, pray do not! George, I implore you do not!” shrieked Hero, turning very pale.