“Come, now, my friends,” said the President, with a good-humoured seriousness, “let me tell you that the position of either of you is no joke. It is too serious for any lightness and for any passion. I do not want to hear a word about your grievances. I see quite enough. I see a lady driven from home, deprived of her children, and tormenting herself with thoughts of revenge because she has no other object. I see a gentleman who has been cruelly put to shame in his own house and in the public street, worn with anxiety about his innocent daughters, and with natural fears—inevitable fears, of the mischief that may be done to his character and fortunes by an ill use of the confidence he once gave to the wife of his bosom.”
There was a suppressed groan from Lord Carse, and something like a titter from the lady. The President went on even more gravely.
“I know how easy it is for people to make each other wretched, and especially for you two to ruin each other. If I could but persuade you to sit down with me to a quiet discussion of a plan for living together or apart, abstaining from mutual injury—”
Lord Carse dissented audibly from their living together, and the lady from living apart.
“Why,” remonstrated the President, “things cannot be worse than they are now. You make life a hell—”
“I am sure it is to me!” sighed Lord Carse.
“It is not yet so to me,” said the lady. “I—”
“It is not!” thundered her husband, turning suddenly round upon her. “Then I will take care it shall be.”
“For God’s sake, hush!” exclaimed the President, shocked to the soul.
“Do your worst,” said the lady, rising. “We will try which has the most power. You know what ruin is.”