“Now you must go; I have my work to finish.”
The younger woman put her arms round her. “Oh, you are so good and beautiful!”
The silk dress and the fur cloak rustled out of the room.
The woman who was left alone walked up and down, at last faster and faster, till the drops stood on her forehead. After a time she went up to the table; there was written illegibly in a man’s hand on a fragment of manuscript paper: “Can I come to see you this afternoon?” Near it was a closed and addressed envelope. She opened it. In it were written the words: “Yes, please, come.”
She tore it across and wrote the words: “No, I shall not be at liberty.”
She closed them in an envelope and addressed them. Then she rolled up the manuscript on the table and rang the bell. She gave it to the servant. “Tell the boy to give this to his master, and say the article ends rather abruptly; they must state it is to be continued; I will finish it tomorrow. As he passes No. 20 let him leave this note there.”
The servant went out. She walked up and down with her hands folded above her head.
Two months after, the older woman stood before the fire. The door opened suddenly, and the younger woman came in.
“I had to come—I couldn’t wait. You have heard, he was married this morning? Oh, do you think it is true? Do help me!” She put out her hands.