my message been given to my wife?" he
asked.

Mr. Mool sighed and shook his head. "Messages from her husband are as
completely thrown away on her," he answered, "as if she was still in the
asylum. In justice to yourself, consent to an amicable separation, and I
will arrange it."

"Have you seen her?"

"I insisted on it, before I met her lawyers. She declares herself to be
an infamously injured woman--and, upon my honour, she proves it, from
her own point of view. 'My husband never came near me in my illness, and
took my children away by stealth. My children were so perfectly ready
to be removed from their mother, that neither of them had the decency to
write me a letter. My niece contemplated shamelessly escaping to my
son, and wrote him a letter vilifying his mother in the most abominable
terms. And Ovid completes the round of ingratitude by marrying the girl
who has behaved in this way.' I declare to you, Gallilee, that was how
she put it! 'Am I to blame,' she said, 'for believing that story about
my brother's wife? It's acknowledged that she gave the man money--the
rest is a matter of opinion. Was I wrong to lose my temper, and say what
I did say to this so-called niece of mine? Yes, I was wrong, there: it's
the only case in which there is a fault to find with me. But had I no
provocation? Have I not suffered? Don't try to look as if you pitied me.
I stand in no need of pity. But I owe a duty to my own self-respect; and
that duty compels me to speak plainly. I will have nothing more to do
with the members of my heartless family. The rest of my life is devoted
to intellectual society, and the ennobling pursuits of science. Let me
hear no more, sir, of you or your employers.' She rose like a queen, and
bowed me out of the room. I declare to you, my flesh creeps when I think
of her."

"If I leave her now," said Mr. Gallilee, "I leave her in debt."

"Give me your word of honour not to mention what I am going to tell
you," Mr. Mool rejoined. "If she needs money, the kindest man in the
world has offered me a blank cheque to fill in for her--and his name is
Ovid Vere."

* * * * *

As the season advanced, two social entertainments which offered the
most complete contrast to each other, were given in London on the same
evening.

Mr. and Mrs. Ovid Vere had a little dinner party to celebrate their
return. Teresa (advanced to the dignity of housekeeper) insisted on
stuffing the tomatoes and cooking the macaroni w