ith feeble laughter, with tears running down his
face: a deplorable spectacle indeed.

Hattersley tried cursing and swearing, but it would not do: he then took
a number of books from the table beside him, and threw them, one by one,
at the object of his wrath; but Arthur only laughed the more; and,
finally, Hattersley rushed upon him in a frenzy and seizing him by the
shoulders, gave him a violent shaking, under which he laughed and
shrieked alarmingly. But I saw no more: I thought I had witnessed enough
of my husband's degradation; and leaving Annabella and the rest to follow
when they pleased, I withdrew, but not to bed. Dismissing Rachel to her
rest, I walked up and down my room, in an agony of misery for what had
been done, and suspense, not knowing what might further happen, or how or
when that unhappy creature would come up to bed.

At last he came, slowly and stumblingly ascending the stairs, supported
by Grimsby and Hattersley, who neither of them walked quite steadily
themselves, but were both laughing and joking at him, and making noise
enough for all the servants to hear. He himself was no longer laughing
now, but sick and stupid. I will write no more about that.

Such disgraceful scenes (or nearly such) have been repeated more than
once. I don't say much to Arthur about it, for, if I did, it would do
more harm than good; but I let him know that I intensely dislike such
exhibitions; and each time he has promised they should never again be
repeated. But I fear he is losing the little self-command and
self-respect he once possessed: formerly, he would have been ashamed to
act thus--at least, before any other witnesses than his boon companions,
or such as they. His friend Hargrave, with a prudence and
self-government that I envy for him, never disgraces himself by taking
more than sufficient to render him a little 'elevated,' and is always the
first to leave the table after Lord Lowborough, who, wiser still,
perseveres in vacating the dining-room immediately after us: but never
once, since Annabella offended him so deeply, has he entered the
drawing-room before the rest; always spending the interim in the library,
which I take care to have lighted for his accommodation; or, on fine
moonlight nights, in roaming about the grounds. But I think she regrets
her misconduct, for she has never repeated it since, and of late she has
comported herself with wonderful propriety towards him, treating him with
more