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looked wan and of the earth beside her。 For her sake they had been content
with the simplicity of chiffon and white lace hats； and she stood among
them lustrous as some angelic being。 Stanhope was entranced by her
beauty； and no one on this day wondered at his infatuation or thought
remarkable the ecstasy of reverent rapture with which he received the
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hand of his bride。 His sense of the gift was ravishing。 She was now his
love； his wife forever； and when Ethel slipped forward to part and throw
backward the concealing veil； he very gently restrained her； and with his
own hands uncovered the blushing beauty； and kissed her there at the altar。
Then amid a murmur and stir of delighted sympathy he took his wife upon
his arm； and turned with her to the life they were to face together。
Two hours later all was a past dream。 Bride and bridegroom had
slipped quietly away； and the wedding guests had arrived at that rather
noisy indifference which presages the end of an entertainment。 Then
flushed and tired with hurrying congratulations and good wishes that
stumbled over each other； carriage after carriage departed； and Ethel and
her companions went to Dora's parlor to rest awhile and discuss the event
of the day。 But Dora's parlor was in a state of confusion。 It had； too； an air
of loss； and felt like a gilded cage from which the bird had flown。 They
looked dismally at its discomfort and went downstairs。 Men were
removing the faded flowers or sitting at the abandoned table eating and
drinking。 Everywhere there was disorder and waste； and from the servants'
quarter came a noisy sense of riotous feasting。
〃Where is Mrs。 Denning？〃 Ethel asked a footman who was gathering
together the silver with the easy unconcern of a man whose ideas were
rosy with champagne。 He looked up with a provoking familiarity at the
question； and sputtered out； 〃She's lying down crying and making a fuss。
Miss Day is with her； soothing of her。〃
〃Let us go home；〃 said Ethel。
And so； weary with pleasure； and heart… heavy with feelings that had
no longer any reason to exist； pale with fatigue； untidy with crush； their
pretty white gowns sullied and passe； each went her way； in every heart a
wonder whether the few hilarious hours of strange emotions were worth
all they claimed as their right and due。
Ruth had gone home earlier； and Ethel found her resting in her room。
〃I am worn out； Ruth；〃 was her first remark。 〃I am going to bed for three
or four days。 It was a dreadful ordeal。〃
〃One to which you may have to submit。〃
〃Certainly not。 My marriage will be a religious ceremony； with half a
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dozen of my nearest relatives as witnesses。〃
〃I noticed Fred slip away before Dora went。 He looked ill。〃
〃I dare say he is illand no wonder。 Good night； Ruth。 I am going to
sleep。 Tell father all about the wedding。 I don't want to hear it named
againnot as long as I live。〃
CHAPTER VI
THREE days passed and Ethel had regained her health and spirits； but
Fred Mostyn had not called since the wedding。 Ruth thought some inquiry
ought to be made； and Judge Rawdon called at the Holland House。 There
he was told that Mr。 Mostyn had not been well； and the young man's
countenance painfully confessed the same thing。
〃My dear Fred； why did you not send us word you were ill？〃 asked the
Judge。
〃I had fever； sir； and I feared it might be typhoid。 Nothing of the kind；
however。 I shall be all right in a day or two。〃
The truth was far from typhoid； and Fred knew it。 He had left the
wedding breakfast because he had reached the limit of his endurance。
Words； stinging as whips； burned like hot coals in his mouth； and he felt
that he could not restrain them much longer。 Hastening to his hotel； he
locked himself in his rooms； and passed the night in a frenzy of passion。
The very remembrance of the bridegroom's confident transport put mur…
der in his heartmurder which he could only practice by his wishes；
impotent to compass their desires。
〃I wish the fellow shot！ I wish him hanged！ I would kill him twenty
times in twenty different ways！ And Dora！ Dora！ Dora！ What did she see
in him？ What could she see？ Love her？ He knows nothing of lovesuch
love as tortures me。〃 Backwards and forwards he paced the floor to such
imprecations and ejaculations as welled up from the whirlpool of rage in
his heart； hour following hour； till in the blackness of his misery he could
no longer speak。 His brain had become stupefied by the iteration of
inevitable loss； and so refused any longer to voice a woe beyond remedy。
Then he stood still and called will and reason to council him。 〃This way
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madness lies；〃 he thought。 〃I must be quietI must sleep I must forget。〃
But it was not until the third day that a dismal； sullen stillness
succeeded the storm of rage and grief； and he awoke from a sleep of
exhaustion feeling as if he were withered at his heart。 He knew that life
had to be taken up again； and that in all its farces he must play his part。 At
first the thought of Mostyn Hall presented itself as an asylum。 It stood
amid thick woods； and there were miles of wind…blown wolds and hills
around it。 He was lord and master there； no one could intrude upon his
sorrow； he could nurse it in those lonely rooms to his heart's content。
Every day； however； this gloomy resolution grew fainter； and one morning
he awoke and laughed it to scorn。
〃Frederick's himself again；〃 he quoted； 〃and he must have been very
far off himself when he thought of giving up or of running away。 No； Fred
Mostyn； you will stay here。 'Tis a country where the impossible does not
exist； and the unlikely is sure to happena country where marriage is not
for life or death； and where the roads to divorce are manifold and easy。
There are a score of ways and means。 I will st