At last the battle began. He was not looking, but he heard her first movement as she prepared herself. 'Tom!' she said, and then the voice of the war goddess was again silent. He did not choose to answer her at the instant, and then the war goddess rose from her seat and again spoke, 'Tom!' she said, standing over him and looking at him.
'What is it you mean?' said he, allowing his eyes to rise to her face over the top of his book.
'Tom!' she said for the third time.
'I'll have no nonsense, Kitty,' said he. 'If you have anything to say, say it.'
Even then she had intended to be affectionate,—had so intended at the first commencement of her address. She had no wish to be a war goddess. But he had assisted her attempt at love by no gentle word, by no gentle look, by no gentle motion. 'I have this to say,' she replied; 'you are disgracing both yourself and me, and I will not remain in this house to be a witness to it.'
'Then you may go out of the house.' These words, be it remembered, were uttered not by the man himself, but by the spirit of port wine within the man.
'Tom, do you say that;—after all?'
'By heavens I do say it! I'll not be told in my own drawing-room, even by you, that I am disgracing myself.'
'Then why do you go after that woman down to Hamworth? All the world is talking of you. At your age too! You ought to be ashamed of yourself.'
'I can't stand this,' said he, getting up and throwing the book from him right across the drawing-room floor; 'and, by heavens! I won't stand it.'
'Then why do you do it, sir?'
'Kitty, I believe the devil must have entered into you to drive you mad.'
'Oh, oh, oh! very well, sir. The devil in the shape of drink and lust has entered into you. But you may understand this; I—will—not—consent to live with you while such deeds as these are being done.' And then without waiting for another word, she stormed out of the room.
END OF VOL. I.
LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET.
