“It is my husband there, who grudges me my success! He does, he does! Oh, George, for shame! I did it for Ben—for our son—to be able to send him to college. I have made a hit—quite by accident—and you grudge it me!”
“He doesn’t, he doesn’t grudge you your artistic expansion!” said Mr. Aix, and went to George and put his hand on his shoulder. “Old George is the best sort in the world at the bottom. Pull yourself together, dear old man, and be thankful you have a clever wife, as well as a good one. She’s a genius—she’s better, she’s a brick. I can tell you she’s a heaven-born actress, and you know what sort of a wife she has been to you. Speak to her, man, don’t let her cry her heart out now, in the hour of her triumph. What’s a triumph? At the best but short-lived! Don’t grudge it her! Congratulate her——”
George came out of his corner and took Mother’s hand and kissed it nicely, as I have seen him kiss Lady Scilly’s hand, but Mother’s never.
“One can only beg your pardon, Lucy, for this, and everything else. Can you forgive me?”
I re-open my MS. to add a few facts of interest.
1. Ariadne got a baby in June; his name is Almeric Peter Frederick.
2. Aunt Gerty got her brewer, and Mrs. Bowser has left the stage.
3. Ben was sent to school, and they say he is clever, though I never could see it.
4. Lady Scilly has run away with the chauffeur and, so far, hasn’t come back.
5. I am going to stay with Ernie Fynes’ mother, Lady Fynes, at Barsom. Ernie will be away at Eton, but he loves me.