CHAPTER XX.
"There are that raise up strife and contention." --_Hab._ 1:3.
"Only by pride cometh contention." --_Prov._ 13:10.
While Zoe was at Max's door, something took Edward to their rooms. He wasthere but a moment--just long enough to pick up the article he wanted--andhurrying down the hall again, caught the sound of her voice as he reachedthe head of the stairway.
For an instant he stood still, debating with himself whether to interfereor not; then deciding in the negative, passed on down the stairs moreangry with her than ever.
She was defying riot only his authority, but also that of his grandfatherand mother, and interfering with their management of the childrencommitted to their care by their own father. Truly, he feared he had madea sad mistake in putting such a child into a woman's position, where shefelt herself entitled to rights, for whose proper exercise she had not yetsufficient judgment or self-control.
As he entered the drawing-room, Miss Deane, who was seated at a tablelooking over a portfolio of drawings and engravings, called him to herside.
"You have visited these places, Mr. Travilla," she said, "and I want thebenefit of your explanations, and your opinion whether the pictures aretrue to nature. They are European views, I see."
Of course he could not, without great rudeness, refuse to take a seat byher side and give her the information she requested.
So it happened that when Zoe came in presently after, her anger wasintensely aroused by seeing her husband and Miss Deane seated at a distanttable, apart from the rest of the occupants of the room, laughing andtalking with their heads very close together over an engraving.
Edward lifted his just in time to catch her look of mingled amazement,scorn, and indignation. He flushed hotly, and remembering what he had justoverheard up-stairs, and what had passed between them in theapple-orchard, gave her an angry glance in return.
She drew her slight, girlish figure up to its full height, and turningaway, crossed the room toward a sofa where Mrs. Dinsmore and a bachelorgentleman of the neighborhood sat conversing together.
A sudden impulse seized her as Mr. Larned rose and took her hand ingreeting, Mrs. Dinsmore being called from the room at the same moment by aservant, who said that some one was waiting in the hall to speak to her.
"I'll pay Edward back in his own coin," Zoe said to herself, and Mr.Larned was surprised at the great cordiality and winning sweetness of hermanner as she took the vacated seat by his side, then at the spirit andvivacity with which she rattled away to him, now on this theme, now onthat.
Excitement lent an unwonted glow to her cheek and brilliancy and sparkleto her always beautiful eyes.
Edward, watching her furtively, with darkening brow, thought he had neverseen her so pretty and fascinating, and never had her low soft laugh, asnow and again it reached his ear, sounded so silvery sweet and musical,yet it jarred on his nerves, and he would fain have stopped it.
He hoped momentarily that Mr. Larned would go, but he sat on and on thewhole evening, Zoe entertaining him all the while.
Other members of the family came in, but though he rose to greet them, heimmediately resumed his seat, and she kept hers, even in spite of thefrowning looks her husband gave her from time to time, but which shefeigned not to see.
At length, his mother perceiving with pain what was going on, managed torelease him from Miss Deane, and he at once took a seat on his wife'sother side, and joined in the talk.
Zoe had but little to say after that, and Mr. Larned presently took hisdeparture.
That was a signal for the good-nights, and all scattered to their rooms.
Zoe's heart quaked as the door of her boudoir closed upon her, shuttingher in alone with her irate husband.
She knew that he was angry, more angry with her than he had ever beenbefore, and though in her thoughts she tried to put all the blame on him,conscience told her that she was by no means blameless.
He locked the door, then turned toward her. She glanced up at him halfdefiantly, half timidly. His look was very stern and cold.
She turned away with a pout and a slight shrug of her pretty shoulders.
"It seems your smiles are for Miss Deane, while your black looks arereserved for your wife," she said.
"I have no interest in Miss Deane," he replied; "it is nothing to me howshe behaves, but my wife's conduct is a matter of vital importance; andlet me tell you, Zoe, I will have no more such exhibitions as you made ofyourself to-night with either Mr. Larned or any other man. I won't allowit. There are some things a man won't put up with. You must and shall showsome respect to my wishes in regard to this."
"Orders, you'd better say," she muttered.
"Well, then, orders, if you prefer it."
She was very angry, and withal a good deal frightened.
"Exhibitions indeed!" she cried, sinking into a chair, for she wastrembling from head to foot. "What did I do? Why had you any more right tolaugh and talk with another woman than I with another man?"
"Laughing and talking may be well enough; but it was more than that; youwere actually flirting."
"You call it that just because you are jealous. And if I was, it was yourfault--setting me the example by flirting with Miss Deane."
"I did nothing of the kind," he returned haughtily. "I sat beside heragainst my will, simply because she requested me to go over those sketchesand engravings with her. I couldn't in common politeness refuse."
"Well, I didn't know that; and you needn't scold me for following yourexample."
"I tell you I did not set you the example; and I advise you to beware howyou behave so again. Also how you interfere in the discipline grandpa andmamma see proper to use toward Max and his sisters, as you did to-night."
"So you have been acting the spy upon your wife!" she interrupted inscornful indignation.
"No; I overheard you quite accidentally. It is the second time you havedone that thing, and I warn you to let it be the last."
"Indeed! Why don't you say at once that you'll beat me if I don't obey allyour tyrannical orders?"
"Because it wouldn't be true; should I ever so far forget myself as tolift my hand against my wife, I could never again lay claim to the name ofgentleman."
"Perhaps, then, you will lock me up?" she sneered.
"Possibly I may, if you make it necessary," he said coldly.
"Lock me up, indeed! I'd like to see you try it!" she cried, starting upwith flashing eyes, and stamping her foot in a sort of fury ofindignation.
Then rushing into the adjoining room, she tore off her ornaments anddress, pulled down her hair, her cheeks burning, her eyes hot and dry.
But by the time she had assumed her night-dress the first fury of passionhad spent itself, and scalding tears were raining down her cheeks.
She threw herself on the bed, sobbing convulsively. "Oh, I never, neverthought he would treat me so! and he wouldn't dare if papa was alive; buthe knows I've nobody to defend me--nobody in the wide world, and he canabuse me as much as he pleases. But I think it's very mean for a bigstrong man to be cruel to a little weak woman."
Then as her anger cooled still more, "But I have done and said provokingthings to-day as well as he," she acknowledged to herself. "I suppose ifI'd been in his place I'd have got mad, too, and scolded and threatened mywife. Well, if he'd only come and kiss me and coax me a little, I'd say Iwas sorry and didn't intend to vex him, so any more."
She hushed her sobs and listened. She could hear him moving about in thedressing-room.
"Edward!" she called in soft, tremulous tones.
No answer.
She waited a moment, then called a little louder, "Ned!"
There was no reply, and she turned over on her pillow, and cried herselfto sleep.
When she woke all was darkness and silence.
She felt half frightened.
"Edward," she said softly, and put out her hand to feel for h
im.
He was not there. She sprang from the bed and groped her way into thedressing-room.
There the moon shone in, and by its light she perceived the form of herhusband stretched upon a couch, while the sound of his breathing told herthat he slept.
She crept back to her bed, and lay down upon it with such a sense of utterloneliness as she had never known before.
"Oh," she moaned to herself, "he hates me, he hates me! he wouldn't evenlie down beside me! he will never love me any more."
She wept a long while, but at last fell into a profound sleep.
When she next awoke day had dawned, but it was earlier than their usualhour for rising.
The first object that met her gaze was Edward's untouched pillow, and thesight instantly brought back the events of the previous day and night.
Her first emotion was resentment toward her husband, but better thoughtssucceeded. She loved him dearly, and for the sake of peace she wouldhumble herself a little. She would go and wake him with a kiss, and sayshe was sorry to have vexed him, and if he'd only be kind and not orderher, she wouldn't do so any more.
She slipped out of bed, stole noiselessly to the door of thedressing-room, and looked in.
He was not there, and the room was in great disorder, closet and wardrobedoors and bureau drawers open and things scattered here and there, as ifhe had made a hasty selection of garments, tossing aside such as he didnot want.
As Zoe gazed about in wonder and surprise, the sound of wheels caught herear.
She ran to a window overlooking a side entrance, and dropped on her kneesbefore it to look and listen without danger of being seen.
There stood the family carriage. Edward was in the act of handing MissFleming into it; Miss Deane followed, and he stepped in after her, onlypausing a moment with his foot upon the step to turn and answer a questionfrom his mother.
"How long do you expect to be gone, Edward?" Elsie asked.
"Probably a week or ten days, mother," he replied. "Good-by," and inanother instant the carriage rolled away.
Zoe felt stunned, bewildered, as she knelt there leaning her head againstthe window frame and watched it till it was out of sight.
"Gone!" she said aloud; "gone without one word of good-by to me, withouttelling me he was going, without saying he was sorry for his cruel wordslast night, and with Miss Deane. Oh, I know now that he hates me and willnever, never love me again!"
Bitter, scalding tears streamed from her eyes. She rose presently andbegan mechanically picking up and putting away his clothes, then made herusual neat toilet, stopping every now and then to wipe away her tears, forshe was crying all the time.
The breakfast bell rang at the accustomed hour, but she could not bear thethought of going down and showing her tear-swollen eyes at the table.Besides, she did not feel hungry; she thought she would never want to eatagain.
After a little, opening the door in answer to a rap, she found Agnesstanding there with a delightful breakfast on a silver waiter--hot coffee,delicate rolls and muffins, tender beefsteak, and omelet.
"Good-mornin', Miss Zoe," said the girl, walking in and setting her burdendown on a stand. "Miss Elsie she tole me for to fotch up dis yere. Shetink, Miss Elsie do, dat p'raps you'd rather eat yo' breakfus up yere dismornin'."
"Yes, so I would, Agnes, though I'm not very hungry. Tell mamma she's verykind, and I'm much obliged."
"Ya'as, Miss Zoe," and Agnes courtesied and withdrew.
Zoe took a sip of the coffee, tasted the omelet, found a coming appetite,and went on to make a tolerably hearty meal, growing more cheerful andhopeful as she ate.
But grief overcame her again as she went about the solitary rooms; itseemed as if her husband's presence lingered everywhere, and yet as if hewere dead and buried, and she never to see him more.
Not quite a year had elapsed since her father's death, and the scenes ofthat day and night and many succeeding ones came vividly before her; theutter forlornness of her condition, alone in a strange land with a dyingparent, with no earthly comforter at hand, no friend or helper in all thewide world, and how Edward then flew to her assistance, how kindly heministered to her dying father, how tenderly he took her in his arms,whispering words of love and sympathy, and asking her to become his wifeand give him the right to protect and care for her.
And how he had lavished favors and endearments upon her all these months;how patiently he had borne with petulance and frequent disregard of hisknown wishes, nor ever once reminded her that she owed her home and everyearthly blessing to him.
How he had sympathized with her in her bursts of grief for her father,soothing her with tenderest caresses and assurances of the bliss of thedeparted, and reminding her of the blessed hope of reunion in the betterland.
After all this, she surely might have borne a little from him--a triflingneglect or reproof, a slight exertion of authority, especially as shecould not deny that she was very young and foolish to be left to her ownguidance.
And perhaps he had a right to claim her obedience, for she knew that shehad promised to give it.
She found she loved him with a depth and passion she had not been awareof. But he had gone away without a good-by to her, in anger, and with MissDeane. He would never have done that if there had been a spark of loveleft in his heart.
Where and how was he going to spend that week or ten days? At the house ofMiss Deane's parents, sitting beside her, hearing her talk and enjoyingit, though he knew his little wife at home must be breaking her heartbecause of his absence?
Was he doing this instead of carrying out his half threat of locking herup? Did he know that this was a punishment ten times worse?
But if he wasn't going to love her any more, if he was tired of her andwanted to be rid of her, how could she ever bear to stay and be a burdenand constant annoyance to him?
Elsie, coming up a little later, found her in her boudoir crying verybitterly.
"Dear child, my dear little daughter," she said, taking her in her kindarms, "don't grieve so; a week or even ten days will soon roll round, andEdward will be with you again."
"O mamma, it is a long, long while!" she sobbed. "You know we've neverbeen parted for a whole day since we were married, and he's all I have."
"Yes, dear, I know; and I felt sure you were crying up here and didn'twant to show your tell-tale face at the table, so I sent your breakfastup. I hope you paid it proper attention--did not treat it with neglect?"she added sportively.
"It tasted very good, mamma, and you were very kind," Zoe said.
She longed to ask where and on what errand Edward had gone, but did notwant to expose her ignorance of his plans.
"I did not know the ladies were going to-day," she remarked.
"It was very sudden," was the reply; "a telegram received this morningsummoned them home because of the alarming illness of Miss Deane's father,and as Edward had business to attend to that would make it necessary forhim to take a train leaving only an hour later than theirs, he thought itbest to see them on their way as far as our city. He could not do more, astheir destination and his lie in exactly opposite directions."
Though Edward had kept his own counsel, the kind mother had hersuspicions, and was anxious to relieve Zoe's mind as far as lay in herpower.
Zoe's brightening countenance and sigh of relief showed her that herefforts were not altogether in vain.
"I think Edward was sorry to leave his little wife for so long," she wenton. "He committed her to my care. What will you do with yourself thismorning, dear, while I am busy with the children in the school-room?"
"I don't know, mamma; perhaps learn some lessons. Edward would wish me toattend to my studies while he is away, and I want to please him."
"I haven't a doubt of that, dear. I know there is very strong love betweenyou, and the knowledge makes me very happy."
"Mamma," said Zoe, "may I ask you a question?"
"Certainly, dear, as many as you please."
"Did you obey your husban
d?"
Elsie looked surprise, almost startled; the query seemed to throw newlight on the state of affairs between Edward and his young wife; but sheanswered promptly in her own sweet, gentle tones. "My dear, I often wishedhe would only give me the opportunity; it would have been so great apleasure to give up my wishes for one I loved so dearly."
"Then he never ordered you?"
"Yes, once--very soon after our marriage--he laid his commands upon me tocease calling him Mr. Travilla and say Edward," Elsie said, with a dreamysmile and a far-away look in her soft brown eyes.
"He was very much older than I, and knowing him from very early childhood,as a grown-up gentleman and my father's friend, I had been used to callinghim Mr. Travilla, and could hardly feel it respectful to drop the title.
"The only other order he ever gave me was not to exert myself to lift mylittle Elsie before I had recovered my strength after her birth. He wasvery tenderly careful of his little wife, as he delighted to call her."
"I wish I had known him," said Zoe. "Is my husband much like him?"
"More in looks than disposition. I sometimes think he resembles my fathermore than his own in the latter regard.
"Yes," thought Zoe, "that's where he gets his disposition to domineer overme and order me about. I always knew Grandpa Dinsmore was of that sort."
Aloud she said, with a watery smile, "And my Edward has been very tenderlycareful of me."
"And always will be, I trust," said his mother, smiling more cheerily. "Ifhe does not prove so, he is less like my father than I think. Mamma willtell you, I am sure, that she has been the happiest of wives."
"I suppose it depends a good deal upon the two dispositions how a coupleget on together," remarked Zoe, sagely. "But, mamma, do you think the manshould always rule and have his way in everything?"
"I think a wife's best plan, if she desires to have her own way, is alwaysto be or to seem ready to give up to her husband. Don't deny or opposetheir claim to authority, and they are not likely to care to exert it."
"If I were only as wise and good as you, mamma!" murmured Zoe with a sigh.
"Ah, dear, I am not at all good; and as to the wisdom, I trust it willcome to you with years; there is an old saying that we cannot expect tofind gray heads on green shoulders."