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〃Benjamin！〃 I said。 〃This is a strange coincidence。 Look here！〃
He looked where I pointed。 Major Fitz…David's address was Number
Sixteen Vivian Placethe very house which I had seen my husband
leaving as we passed in the carriage！
CHAPTER VII。
ON THE WAY TO THE MAJOR。
〃YES； said Benjamin。 〃It _is_ a coincidence certainly。 Still〃
He stopped and looked at me。 He seemed a little doubtful how I
might receive what he had it in his mind to say to me next。
〃Go on；〃 I said。
〃Still； my dear； I see nothing suspicious in what has happened；〃
he resumed。 〃To my mind it is quite natural that your husband；
being in London； should pay a visit to one of his friends。 And
it's equally natural that we should pass through Vivian Place on
our way back here。 This seems to be the reasonable view。 What do
_you_ say？〃
〃I have told you already that my mind is in a bad way about
Eustace；〃 I answered。 〃_I_ say there is some motive at the bottom
of his visit to Major Fitz…David。 It is not an ordinary call。 I
am firmly convinced it is not an ordinary call！〃
〃Suppose we get on with our dinner？〃 said Benjamin； resignedly。
〃Here is a loin of mutton； my dearan ordinary loin of mutton。
Is there anything suspicious in _that？_ Very well； then。 Show me
you have confidence in the mutton； please eat。 There's the wine；
again。 No mystery； Valeria； in that claretI'll take my oath
it's nothing but innocent juice of the grape。 If we can't believe
in anything else； let's believe in juice of the grape。 Your good
health； my dear。〃
I adapted myself to the old man's genial humor as readily as I
could。 We ate and we drank； and we talked of by…gone days。 For a
little while I was almost happy in the company of my fatherly old
friend。 Why was I not old too？ Why had I not done with love； with
its certain miseries； its transient delights； its cruel losses；
its bitterly doubtful gains？ The last autumn flowers in the
window basked brightly in the last of the autumn sunlight。
Benjamin's little dog digested his dinner in perfect comfort on
the hearth。 The parrot in the next house screeched his vocal
accomplishments cheerfully。 I don't doubt that it is a great
privilege to be a human being。 But may it not be the happier
destiny to be an animal or a plant？
The brief respite was soon over； all my anxieties came back。 I
was once more a doubting； discontented； depressed creature when I
rose to say good…by。
〃Promise； my dear； you will do nothing rash； 〃said Benjamin； as
he opened the door for me。
〃Is it rash to go to Major Fitz…David？〃 I asked。
〃Yesif you go by yourself。 You don't know what sort of man he
is； you don't know how he may receive you。 Let me try first； and
pave the way； as the saying is。 Trust my experience； my dear。 In
matters of this sort there is nothing like paving the way。〃
I considered a moment。 It was due to my good friend to consider
before I said No。
Reflection decided me on taking the responsibility； whatever it
might be； upon my own shoulders。 Good or bad； compassionate or
cruel； the Major was a man。 A woman's influence was the safest
influence to trust with him； where the end to be gained was such
an end as I had in view。 It was not easy to say this to Benjamin
without the danger of mortifying him。 I made an appointment with
the old man to call on me the next morning at the hotel； and talk
the matter over again。 Is it very disgraceful to me to add that I
privately determined （if the thing could be accomplished） to see
Major Fitz…David in the interval？
〃Do nothing rash； my dear。 In your own interests； do nothing
rash！〃
Those were Benjamin's last words when we parted for the day。
I found Eustace waiting for me in our sitting…room at the hotel。
His spirits seemed to have revived since I had seen him last。 He
advanced to meet me cheerfully； with an open sheet of paper in
his hand。
〃My business is settled； Valeria； sooner than I had expected；〃 he
began； gayly。 〃Are your purchases all completed； fair lady？ Are
_you_ free too？〃
I had learned already （God help me！） to distrust his fits of
gayety。 I asked； cautiously；
〃Do you mean free for to…day？〃
〃Free for to…day； and to…morrow； and next week； and next
monthand next year too； for all I know to the contrary；〃 he
answered； putting his arm boisterously round my waist。 〃Look
here！〃
He lifted the open sheet of paper which I had noticed in his
hand； and held it for me to read。 It was a telegram to the
sailing…m aster of the yacht； informing him that we had arranged
to return to Ramsgate that evening； and that we should be ready
to sail for the Mediterranean with the next tide。
〃I only waited for your return；〃 said Eustace； 〃to send the
telegram to the office。〃
He crossed the room as he spoke to ring the bell。 I stopped him。
〃I am afraid I can't go to Ramsgate to…day；〃 I said。
〃Why not？〃 he asked； suddenly changing his tone； and speaking
sharply。
I dare say it will seem ridiculous to some people； but it is
really true that he shook my resolution to go to Major Fitz…David
when he put his arm round me。 Even a mere passing caress from
_him_ stole away my heart； and softly tempted me to yield。 But
the ominous alteration in his tone made another woman of me。 I
felt once more； and felt more strongly than ever； that in my
critical position it was useless to stand still； and worse than
useless to draw back。
〃I am sorry to disappoint you；〃 I answered。 It is impossible for
me （as I told you at Ramsgate） to be ready to sail at a moment's
notice。 I want time。〃
〃What for？〃
Not only his tone； but his look； when he put that second
question； jarred on every nerve in me。 He roused in my mindI
can't tell how or whyan angry sense of the indignity that he
had put upon his wife in marrying her under a false name。 Fearing
that I should answer rashly； that I should say something which my
better sense might regret； if I spoke at that moment； I said
nothing。 Women alone can estimate what it cost me to be silent。
And men alone can understand how irritating my silence must have
been to my husband。
〃You want time？〃 he repeated。 〃I ask you againwhat for？〃
My self…control； pushed to its extremest limits； failed me。 The
rash reply flew out of my lips； like a bird set free from a cage。
〃I want time；〃 I said； 〃to accustom myself to my right name。〃
He suddenly stepped up to me with a dark look。
〃What do you mean by your 'right name？'〃
〃Surely you know；〃 I answered。 〃I once thought I was Mrs。
Woodville。 I have now discovered that I am Mrs。 Macallan。〃
He started back at the sound of his own name as if I had struck
himhe started back； and turned so deadly pale that I feared he
was going to drop at my feet in a swoon。 Oh； my tongue！ my
tongue！ Why had I not controlled my miserable； mischievous
woman's tongue！
〃I didn't mean to alarm you； Eustace；〃 I said。 〃I spoke at
random。 Pray forgive me。〃
He waved his hand impatiently； as if my penitent words were
tangible thingsruffling； worrying things； like flies in
summerwhich he was putting away from him。
〃What else have you discovered？〃 he asked； in low； stern tones。
〃Nothing； Eustace。〃
〃Nothing？〃 He paused as