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as nothing had alarmed me yet。 How terrible （I thought to myself）
must this untold story be； if the mere act of referring to it
makes light…hearted Major Fitz…David speak seriously and sadly；
never smiling； never paying me a compliment； never even noticing
the singing upstairs！ My heart sank in me as I drew that
startling conclusion。 For the first time since I had entered the
house I was at the end of my resources； I knew neither what to
say nor what to do next。
And yet I kept my seat。 Never had the resolution to discover what
my husband was hiding from me been more firmly rooted in my mind
than it was at that moment！ I cannot account for the
extraordinary inconsistency in my character which this confession
implies。 I can only describe the facts as they really were。
The singing went on upstairs。 Major Fitz…David still waited
impenetrably to hear what I had to sayto know what I resolved
on doing next。
Before I had decided what to say or what to do； another domestic
incident happened。 In plain words； another knocking announced a
new visitor at the house door。 On this occasion there was no
rustling of a woman's dress in the hall。 On this occasion only
the old servant entered the room； carrying a magnificent nosegay
in his hand。 〃With Lady Clarinda's kind regards。 To remind Major
Fitz…David of his appointment。〃 Another lady！ This time a lady
with a title。 A great lady who sent her flowers and her messages
without condescending to concealment。 The Majorfirst
apologizing to mewrote a few lines of acknowledgment； and sent
them out to the messenger。 When the door was closed again he
carefully selected one of the choicest flowers in the nosegay。
〃May I ask；〃 he said； presenting the flower to me with his best
grace； 〃whether you now understand the delicate position in which
I am placed between your husband and yourself？〃
The little interruption caused by the appearance of the nosegay
had given a new impulse to my thoughts； and had thus helped； in
some degree； to r estore me to myself。 I was able at last to
satisfy Major Fitz…David that his considerate and courteous
explanation had not been thrown away upon me。
〃I thank you； most sincerely； Major；〃 I said 〃You have convinced
me that I must not ask you to forget； on my account； the promise
which you have given to my husband。 It is a sacred promise； which
I too am bound to respectI quite understand that。〃
The Major drew a long breath of relief； and patted me on the
shoulder in high approval of what I had said to him。
〃Admirably expressed！〃 he rejoined； recovering his light…hearted
looks and his lover…like ways all in a moment。 〃My dear lady； you
have the gift of sympathy； you see exactly how I am situated。 Do
you know； you remind me of my charming Lady Clarinda。 _She_ has
the gift of sympathy； and sees exactly how I am situated。 I
should so enjoy introducing you to each other；〃 said the Major；
plunging his long nose ecstatically into Lady Clarinda's flowers。
I had my end still to gain； and； being （as you will have
discovered by this time） the most obstinate of living women； I
still kept that end in view。
〃I shall be delighted to meet Lady Clarinda；〃 I replied。 〃In the
meantime〃
〃I will get up a little dinner；〃 proceeded the Major； with a
burst of enthusiasm。 〃You and I and Lady Clarinda。 Our young
prima donna shall come in the evening； and sing to us。 Suppose we
draw out the _menu？_ My sweet friend； what is your favorite
autumn soup？〃
〃In the meantime；〃 I persisted； 〃to return to what we were
speaking of just now〃
The Major's smile vanished； the Major's hand dropped the pen
destined to immortalize the name of my favorite autumn soup。
〃_Must_ we return to that？〃 he asked； piteously。
〃Only for a moment；〃 I said。
〃You remind me；〃 pursued Major Fitz…David； shaking his head
sadly； 〃of another charming friend of minea French
friendMadame Mirliflore。 You are a person of prodigious
tenacity of purpose。 Madame Mirliflore is a person of prodigious
tenacity of purpose。 She happens to be in London。 Shall we have
her at our little dinner？〃 The Major brightened at the idea； and
took up the pen again。 〃Do tell me；〃 he said； 〃what _is_ your
favorite autumn soup？〃
〃Pardon me；〃 I began； 〃we were speaking just now〃
〃Oh； dear me！〃 cried Major Fitz…David。 〃Is this the other
subject？〃
〃Yesthis is the other subject。〃
The Major put down his pen for the second time； and regretfully
dismissed from his mind Madame Mirliflore and the autumn soup。
〃Yes？〃 he said； with a patient bow and a submissive smile。 〃You
were going to say〃
〃I was going to say；〃 I rejoined； 〃that your promise only pledges
you not to tell the secret which my husband is keeping from me。
You have given no promise not to answer me if I venture to ask
you one or two questions。〃
Major Fitz…David held up his hand warningly； and cast a sly look
at me out of his bright little gray eyes。
〃Stop！〃 he said。 〃My sweet friend； stop there！ I know where your
questions will lead me； and what the result will be if I once
begin to answer them。 When your husband was here to…day he took
occasion to remind me that I was as weak as water in the hands of
a pretty woman。 He is quite right。 I _am_ as weak as water； I can
refuse nothing to a pretty woman。 Dear and admirable lady； don't
abuse your influence！ don't make an old soldier false to his word
of honor！〃
I tried to say something here in defense of my motives。 The Major
clasped his hands entreatingly； and looked at me with a pleading
simplicity wonderful to see。
〃Why press it？〃 he asked。 〃I offer no resistance。 I am a
lambwhy sacrifice me？ I acknowledge your power； I throw myself
on your mercy。 All the misfortunes of my youth and my manhood
have come to me through women。 I am not a bit better in my ageI
am just as fond of the women and just as ready to be misled by
them as ever； with one foot in the grave。 Shocking； isn't it？ But
how true！ Look at this mark！〃 He lifted a curl of his beautiful
brown wig； and showed me a terrible scar at the side of his head。
〃That wound （supposed to be mortal at the time） was made by a
pistol bullet；〃 he proceeded。 〃Not received in the service of my
countryoh dear； no！ Received in the service of a much…injured
lady； at the hands of her scoundrel of a husband； in a duel
abroad。 Well； she was worth it。〃 He kissed his hand
affectionately to the memory of the dead or absent lady； and
pointed to a water…color drawing of a pretty country…house
hanging on the opposite wall。 〃That fine estate；〃 he proceeded；
〃once belonged to me。 It was sold years and years since。 And who
had the money？ The womenGod bless them all！the women。 I don't
regret it。 If I had another estate； I have no doubt it would go
the same way。 Your adorable sex has made its pretty playthings of
my life； my time； and my moneyand welcome！ The one thing I have
kept to myself is my honor。 And now _that_ is in danger。 Yes； if
you put your clever little questions； with those lovely eyes and
with that gentle voice； I know what will happen。 You will deprive
me of the last and best of all my possessions。 Have I deserved to
be treated in that way； and by you； my charming