the present."

"Do you think I will believe you?"

"I don't think you will insult me. Why shouldn't you believe I am
telling you the truth?"

"Because--because you didn't tell me at once."

"That is nonsense, and you know it. If I wanted to keep this from you,
it was to spare you the annoyance I can't help now, and because the
thing was settled in my mind as soon as Grayson proposed it."

"Then, why has he written to you about it?"

"I suppose I didn't say it was settled."

"Suppose? Don't you _know_ whether you did?"

"Come, now, Louise! I am not on the witness-stand, and I won't be
cross-questioned. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. What is the
matter with you? Am I to blame because a man who doesn't imagine your
dislike of a woman that you never spoke to suggests her taking part in a
play that she probably wouldn't look at? You're preposterous! Try to
have a little common-sense!" These appeals seemed to have a certain
effect with his wife; she looked daunted; but Maxwell had the misfortune
to add, "One would think you were jealous of the woman."

"_Now_ you are insulting _me_!" she cried. "But it's a part of the
vulgarity of the whole business. Actors, authors, managers, you're all
alike."

Maxwell got very pale. "Look out, Louise!" he warned her.

"I _won't_ look out. If you had any delicacy, the least delicacy in the
world, you could imagine how a woman who had given the most sacred
feelings of her nature to you for your selfish art would loathe to be
represented by such a creature as that, and still not be jealous of her,
as you call it! But I am justly punished! I might have expected it."

The maid appeared at the door and said something, which neither of them
could make out at once, but which proved to be the question whether Mrs.
Maxwell had ordered the dinner.

"No, I will go--I was just going out for it," said Louise. She had in
fact not taken off her hat or gloves since she came in from her walk,
and she now turned and swept out of the room without looking at her
husband. He longed to detain her, to speak some kindly or clarifying
word, to set himself right with her, to set her right with herself; but
the rage was so hot in his heart that he could not. She came back to the
door a moment, and looked in. "_I_ will do _my_ duty."

"It's rather late," he sneered, "but if you're very conscientious, I
dare say we shall have dinner at the usual time."

He did not leave the window-seat, and it