“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 90 of flattery, and more regardless of home happiness.
Scott tried to cover her faults with the generosity of his love, but they were daily becoming more and more apparent. He began to think that the faults had always been there, and that for a time she had been enabled to hide them, and that now, in her weakness, she was unable to do so. The truth was she was simply showing out her nature, which she had deemed it prudent heretofore to conceal.
But she was a Wilmer now, and there was not so much necessity to exert herself to conceal them. She knew, as did others, that she dressed with exquisite taste, and that no lady passed her on the street without a flattering comment. But aside from the outside adornments and fair face none ever thought of praising her. She was two years older than Scott, but she took great care that it should not be spoken of. Scott’s family were highly esteemed, and he was called a talented man, and was wealthy. That was Irene’s reason for wishing to become a Wilmer. But though Irene grew more and more careless, and less fond of her own home, Scott tried to hide her faults from others, resolving to do his best to persuade her to give up some of her vain, trifling pleasures, and he would do all in his power to make her happy.
As Irene left the house Scott followed Paul to the library. Seating himself beside Paul, he said:
“Paul, I wish to give you some instruction in regard to a little business which I wish you to do for me. In the meantime I wish to ask you why you pass so little 91 of your time in the library of late. Are you tired of your studies?”
“I have not left off my studies, Mr. Wilmer.”
“You do not come to the library as much as usual; why is it?”
Paul cast his eyes to the floor. At length he said in a tremulous voice:
“I study in my room.”