“Authority, or no authority, Margaret”—­Canning now spoke calmly, but his lips were pale—­“I will never consent that my wife shall be seen in a public assembly with Richards.  You know my opinion of the man.”

“I know you are prejudiced against him, though I believe unjustly.”

“Madness!” exclaimed Canning, thrown off his guard.  “And this from you?”

“I don’t see that you have any cause for getting into a passion, Mr. Canning,” said his wife, with provoking coolness.  “And, I must say, that you interfere with my freedom rather more than a husband has any right to do.  But, to cut this matter short, let me tell you, once for all, that I am going to the assembly to-night with Mr. and Mrs. Richards.  Having promised to do so, I mean to keep my promise.”

“Margaret, I positively forbid your going!” said Canning, in much excitement.

“I deny your right to command me!  In consenting to become your wife, I did not make myself your slave; although it is clear from this, and other things that have occurred since our marriage, that you consider me as occupying that position.”

“Then it is your intention to go with this man?” said Canning, again speaking in a calm but deep voice.

“Certainly it is.”

“Very well.  I will not make any threat of what I will do, Margaret.  But this I can assure you, that lightly as you may think of this matter, if persevered in, it will cause you more sorrow than you have ever known.  Go!  Go against my wish—­against my command, if you will have it so—­and when you feel the consequence, lay the blame upon no one but yourself.  And now let me say to you, Margaret, that your conduct as a wife has tended rather to estrange your husband’s heart from you than to win his love.  I say this now, because I may not have—­”

“James!  It is folly for you to talk to me after that fashion,” exclaimed Margaret, breaking in upon him.  “I—­”

But before she could finish the sentence, Canning had left the room, closing the door hard after him.

Just an hour from this time, Mr. and Mrs. Richards called in their carriage for Mrs. Canning, who went with them to the assembly.  An hour was a long period for reflection, and ought to have afforded sufficient time for the wife of Canning to come to a wiser determination than that from which she acted.

Not half a dozen revolutions of the carriage wheels had been made, however, before Margaret repented of what she had done.  But it was now too late.  The pleasure of the entertainment passed before her, but it found no response in her breast.  She saw little but the pale, compressed lip and knit brow of her husband, and heard little but his word of disapproval.  Oh! how she did long for the confused pageant that was moving before her, and the discordant mingling of voices and instruments, to pass away, that she might return and tell him that she repented of all that she had done.