But I must request that you will comply with my wish in this matter.  If you will send for me I will go to you instantly, and after one word from you to the desired effect, you will find that there will be no recurrence by me to a subject so hateful.  As I have done, and am doing what I think to be right, I cannot stultify myself by saying that I think I have been wrong.

Yours always, dearest Emily,

With the most thorough love,

Louis Trevelyan.’

This letter he himself put on his wife’s dressing-room table, and then he went out to his club.

CHAPTER VI

SHEWING HOW RECONCILIATION WAS MADE

‘Look at that,’ said Mrs Trevelyan, when her sister came into her room about an hour before dinnertime.  Nora read the letter, and then asked her sister what she meant to do.  ’I have written to Mrs Peacock.  I don’t know what else I can do.  It is very hard upon you that you should have been kept at home.  But I don’t suppose Mr Glascock would have been at Mrs Peacock’s.’

‘And what else will you do, Emily?’

’Nothing, simply live deserted and forlorn till he shall choose to find his wits again.  There is nothing else that a woman can do.  If he chooses to dine at his club every day I can’t help it.  We must put off all the engagements, and that will be hard upon you.’

’Don’t talk about me.  It is too terrible to think that there should be such a quarrel.’

‘What can I do?  Have I been wrong?’

’Simply do what he tells you, whether it is wrong or right.  If it’s right, it ought to be done, and if it’s wrong, it will not be your fault.’

’That’s very easily said, and it sounds logical; but you must know it’s unreasonable.’

’I don’t care about reason.  He is your husband, and if he wishes it, you should do it.  And what will be the harm?  You don’t mean to see Colonel Osborne any more.  You have already said that he’s not to be admitted.’

’I have said that nobody is to be admitted.  Louis has driven me to that.  How can I look the servant in the face and tell him that any special gentleman is not to be admitted to see me?  Oh dear! oh dear! have I done anything to deserve it?  Was ever so monstrous an accusation made against any woman!  If it were not for my boy, I would defy him to do his worst.’

On the day following Nora again became a messenger between the husband and wife, and before dinner-time a reconciliation had been effected.  Of course the wife gave way at last; and of course she gave way so cunningly that the husband received none of the gratification which he had expected in her surrender.  ’Tell him to come,’ Nora had urged.  ‘Of course he can come if he pleases,’ Emily had replied.  Then Nora had told Louis to come, and Louis had demanded whether, if he did so, the promise which he exacted would be given.  It is to be feared that Nora perverted the truth a little; but if ever such perversion may be forgiven, forgiveness was due to her.  If they could only be brought together, she was sure that there would be a reconciliation.  They were brought together, and there was a reconciliation.