Nigel looked amazed. An idea occurred to him that caused him absurd
mortification. It dawned upon his mind that perhaps Bertha was going to
have her wish. If so, he would be forgotten more completely than ever.

"Forgive me for asking, Kellynch. I think you've been very good to me,
really. I trust your wife is not ill?"

"Ill?--oh dear, no."

Percy smiled a smile that to Nigel seemed maddeningly complacent. "She
merely wants a little care for a time. We shall go to the country very
early this year. As a matter of fact, it's something she's very pleased
about." He stopped.

Nigel gave a pale smile. Percy was too irritating!

"Well, you were right not to worry her about the letters. I'm very sorry
for the whole thing. I think it's been hard on me, Kellynch."

He stood up.

"Good-bye, Hillier!"

Nigel held out his hand; Percy shook it coldly.

As he went to the door, taking up his hat and stick, Nigel said:

"I sincerely hope you won't miss me!"

CHAPTER XXIX

NIGEL AND MARY

Nigel rushed back. On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse
for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a
wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and
how he would amuse himself. If the husband had only known it, Bertha had
already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his
calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
Still, if Percy had not given him that piece of information, he would
have remained in London, and left it to chance that they might meet
again somehow. He was such an optimist, and was really so very much in
love with her. Curious that this news of Bertha should annoy and should
excite him so much! Why, it seemed to him to be a matter of more
importance and far more interest than in his own wife's case. That he
had taken quite as a matter of course, an ordinary everyday occurrence
"which would give her something to do." He was really disappointed when
he found that Mary did not absorb herself in her children, and found she
was only anxious--foolishly anxious--that he should not think that they
could take his place as companions.

Nigel was affectionate by nature, and if Mary had insisted on that
note--if she had made him proud of his children, encouraged his
affection for them, if she had played the madonna--his affection for her
would have been immensely increased. She would have had a niche in his
heart--a res