CHAPTER XII.

WhileGodfreyCasswastakingdraughtsofforgetfulnessfromthesweetpresenceofNancy,willinglylosingallsenseofthathiddenbondwhichatothermomentsgalledandfrettedhimsoastomingleirritationwiththeverysunshine,Godfrey’swifewaswalkingwithslowuncertainstepsthroughthesnow-coveredRaveloelanes,carryingherchildinherarms. ThisjourneyonNewYear’sEvewasapremeditatedactofvengeancewhichshehadkeptinherhearteversinceGodfrey,inafitofpassion,hadtoldherhewouldsoonerdiethanacknowledgeherashiswife.TherewouldbeagreatpartyattheRedHouseonNewYear’sEve,sheknew:herhusbandwouldbesmilingandsmiledupon,hidingherexistenceinthedarkestcornerofhisheart.Butshewouldmarhispleasure:shewouldgoinherdingyrags,withherfadedface,onceashandsomeasthebest,withherlittlechildthathaditsfather’shairandeyes,anddiscloseherselftotheSquireashiseldestson’swife.Itisseldomthatthemiserablecanhelpregardingtheirmiseryasawronginflictedbythosewhoarelessmiserable.Mollyknewthatthecauseofherdingyragswasnotherhusband’sneglect,butthedemonOpiumtowhomshewasenslaved,bodyandsoul,exceptinthelingeringmother’stendernessthatrefusedtogivehimherhungrychild.Sheknewthiswellandyet,inthemomentsofwretchedunbenumbedconsciousness,thesenseofherwantanddegradationtransformeditselfcontinuallyintobitternesstowardsGodfrey.Hewaswelloffandifshehadherrightsshewouldbewellofftoo.Thebeliefthatherepentedhismarriage,andsufferedfromit,onlyaggravatedhervindictiveness.Justandself-reprovingthoughtsdonotcometoustoothickly,eveninthepurestair,andwiththebestlessonsofheavenandearthhowshouldthosewhite-wingeddelicatemessengersmaketheirwaytoMolly’spoisonedchamber,inhabitedbynohighermemoriesthanthoseofabarmaid’sparadiseofpinkribbonsandgentlemen’sjokes? Shehadsetoutatanearlyhour,buthadlingeredontheroad,inclinedbyherindolencetobelievethatifshewaitedunderawarmshedthesnowwouldceasetofall.Shehadwaitedlongerthansheknew,andnowthatshefoundherselfbelatedinthesnow-hiddenruggednessofthelonglanes,eventheanimationofavindictivepurposecouldnotkeepherspiritfromfailing.Itwasseveno’clock,andbythistimeshewasnotveryfarfromRaveloe,butshewasnotfamiliarenoughwiththosemonotonouslanestoknowhownearshewastoherjourney’send.Sheneededcomfort,andsheknewbutonecomforter—thefamiliardemoninherbosombutshehesitatedamoment,afterdrawin