Men and Wives Read Online Free PDF Page A

is too hard for most of us. It is not to be wondered at that gifts are rare.”
    â€œNo, no, it is not,” said Jermyn, his voice rising. “It is a great piece of fortune to be above most men, for those that are.”
    â€œIt is a good thing to feel you are that. I don’t think a strong conviction is ever based on nothing.”
    â€œWell, yours will be the first opinion I shall want, when the verses are ready for the human eye.”
    â€œWe only really want one opinion.”
    â€œI know you have written yourself, Mellicent. And your writing has my gravest respect; and I am not given to easy praise of the artist.”
    â€œThe other kind of praise is the thing,” said Mellicent. “Here is Griselda, threatening to take you home.”
    â€œJermyn, we shall soon have had a day of happiness. Lady Hardisty is sending us back in the carriage in the hope of saving us. And it is our duty to relieve Gregory.”
    â€œDoes Gregory want to be relieved?” asked Polly.
    â€œYes. He is on duty with Mother,” said Griselda.
    â€œOn duty?” said Polly with her eyes wide.
    â€œWe haven’t your easy life, Polly,” said Jermyn.
    Polly wore a look of living sympathy as her friends drove away.
    â€œDon’t Jermyn and Griselda and Gregory much like being at home?”
    â€œTheir mother’s nerves must be a cloud over everything,” said Mellicent. “They were in real alarm at the thought of not being back in time.”
    â€œBut they will be in time, now they have the carriage,” said Polly, springing to take her father’s arm.
    Sir Percy looked down on his younger child with an emotion that forced its way to his eyes. He believed that his joy in life had ended with the death of her mother nineteen years before, and the conviction was the chief ground of his self-esteem, a feeling that had never had a strong foundation. If he had realised that a little later his contentment had begun, it would have failed to survive;and his second wife, knowing its right to its life, left the truth in silence.
    When Jermyn and Griselda reached their home, Buttermere was stationed at the door of the house.
    â€œWell, we are a little later than we expected,” said Jermyn.
    â€œGood-afternoon, sir,” said Buttermere.
    â€œYes, yes, we have come home in the later half of the day. Is Mr. Gregory still with her ladyship?”
    â€œNot after the first few hours, sir.”
    â€œHow has her ladyship been spending the time?”
    â€œGetting through it by herself in the garden, miss.”
    â€œMr. Gregory is out, I suppose. How long has he been gone?”
    â€œI cannot approximately say, miss.”
    â€œMother, Mother, spare a glance for your children,” called Jermyn, as Harriet came round the house from her garden. “We thought we should be at home before. How long has Gregory been gone?”
    â€œOnly about ten minutes, dear. I don’t quite know what time it is. Have you noticed my borders this year?”
    â€œButtermere, what do you mean by giving a wrong impression?” said Jermyn, following the attendant into the hall.
    Buttermere paused with the suggestion of a bow.
    â€œWill you kindly answer me?”
    â€œIf you will kindly repeat your question, sir.”
    â€œI asked you why you could not speak the truth.”
    â€œI should be sorry ever to have done anything else, sir,” said Buttermere sincerely.
    â€œYou knew Mr. Gregory had only just left her ladyship.”
    â€œI stated that he had been with her ladyship for the first few hours, sir. I was under the impression that you had not been gone for a longer period,”
    â€œYou know quite well that you meant to mislead.”
    â€œI know only what I said, sir.”
    â€œWell, darlings, discussing your day?” said Harriet, with a nervous glance in the direction of Buttermere, whose disturbance always transferred itself to her. “Have