Several months of irksome quiet to Mrs. St. John succeeded the festivities that followed upon her marriage.
Her elderly bridegroom found that protracted gayeties did not agree with his age and health, and with the obstinacy common to a selfish old age, he prohibited his wife from participation in those scenes of pleasure in which, by reason of her youth and beauty, she was so pre-eminently fitted to shine.
He could not stand such excitement himself, he said, and he wanted his wife at home to cheer and solace his declining years.
So the beautiful bridal dresses hung in the wardrobe unworn, and the costly jewels hid their brightness locked away in their caskets.
Xenie had small need for these things in the lonely life to which she found herself condemned by her foolish, doting old husband.
Loving pleasure and excitement with all the ardor of a passionate, impulsive temperament like hers, it is quite possible that Mrs. St. John might have rebelled against her liege lord's selfishness, but for one strong purpose to which she bent every energy, subordinating everything else to its accomplishment.
So she bore his selfish exactions with a patient, yielding sweetness, and ministered to his caprices with the beautiful devotion of a fireside angel.
She was using every sweet persuasion in her power to induce Mr. St. John to execute a will in her favor.
She had learned that in the event of his death, without a will, his widow would legally inherit only one-third of his great wealth, while the remaining two-thirds would descend to his next of kin—the next of kin in this case being her enemy, Howard Templeton.
Xenie knew that her revenge would not be secure until her husband had made his will and cut off his nephew without a dollar.