CHAPTER XXII. THE VISIT

woodengate:nodoubtcommunicatingwiththestable-yard,asabroadcarriage-roadsweptuptoitfromthepark.TheshadowofthiswallsoontookpossessionofthewholeofthegroundasfarasIcouldsee,forcingthegoldensunlighttoretreatinchbyinch,andatlasttakerefugeintheverytopsofthetrees.Erelong,eventheywereleftinshadow—theshadowofthedistanthills,oroftheearthitselfand,insympathyforthebusycitizensoftherookery,Iregrettedtoseetheirhabitation,solatelybathedingloriouslight,reducedtothesombre,work-a-dayhueofthelowerworld,orofmyownworldwithin.Foramoment,suchbirdsassoaredabovetherestmightstillreceivethelustreontheirwings,whichimpartedtotheirsableplumagethehueandbrillianceofdeepredgoldatlast,thattoodeparted.TwilightcamestealingontherooksbecamemorequietIbecamemoreweary,andwishedIweregoinghometo-morrow.AtlengthitgrewdarkandIwasthinkingofringingforacandle,andbetakingmyselftobed,whenmyhostessappeared,withmanyapologiesforhavingneglectedmesolong,andlayingalltheblameuponthat“nastyoldwoman,”asshecalledhermother-in-law. “IfIdidn’tsitwithherinthedrawing-roomwhileSirThomasistakinghiswine,”saidshe,“shewouldneverforgivemeandthen,ifIleavetheroomtheinstanthecomes—asIhavedoneonceortwice—itisanunpardonableoffenceagainstherdearThomas.Shenevershowedsuchdisrespecttoherhusband:andasforaffection,wivesneverthinkofthatnow-a-days,shesupposes:butthingsweredifferentinhertime—asiftherewasanygoodtobedonebystayingintheroom,whenhedoesnothingbutgrumbleandscoldwhenhe’sinabadhumour,talkdisgustingnonsensewhenhe’sinagoodone,andgotosleeponthesofawhenhe’stoostupidforeitherwhichismostfrequentlythecasenow,whenhehasnothingtodobuttosotoverhiswine.” “Butcouldyounottrytooccupyhismindwithsomethingbetterandengagehimtogiveupsuchhabits?I’msureyouhavepowersofpersuasion,andqualificationsforamusingagentleman,whichmanyladieswouldbegladtopossess.” “AndsoyouthinkIwouldlaymyselfoutforhisamusement!No:that’snotmyideaofawife.It’sthehusband’sparttopleasethewife,notherstopleasehimandifheisn’tsatisfiedwithherassheis—andthankfultopossesshertoo—heisn’tworthyofher,that’sall.Andasforpersuasion,IassureyouIshan’ttroublemyselfwiththat:I’veenoughtodotobearwithhimasheis,withoutattemptingtoworkareform.ButI’msorryIleftyousolongalone,MissGrey.Howhaveyoupassedthetime?” “Chieflyinwatchingtherooks.” “Mercy,howdullyoumusthavebeen!Ireallymustshowyouthelibraryandyoumustringforeverythingyouwant,justasyouwouldinaninn,andmakeyourselfcomfortable.Ihaveselfishreasonsforwishingtomakeyouhappy,becauseIwantyoutostaywithme,andnotfulfilyourhorridthreatofrunningawayinadayortwo.” “Well,don’tletmekeepyououtofthedrawing-roomanylongerto-night,foratpresentIamtiredandwishtogotobed.”