"Indeed! Well, if you are not, I can only say you're not so
keen-sighted a lawyer as I thought you were. That's all."
"If you think I would have made out better, got more practice, and
made more money in Alabama, that, I must tell you, has been long
since my own opinion."
"No! I don't mean that--it has no regard to business and
money-making--what I mean."
"Ah! what can it have regard to? You make me curious, Mrs. Delaney."
"Well, that may be; but I'm not going to satisfy your curiosity.
I thought you had seen enough for yourself. I'm sure you're the
only one that has not seen."
"Upon my soul, Mrs. Delaney, you are quite a mystery."
"Oh! am I?"
"I can't dive into such depths. I'm ignorant."
"Tell those that know you no better. But you can't blind me. I
know that you know--and more than that, I can guess what's carrying
you to Alabama. It's not law business, I know that."
I was vexed enough, as may be supposed, at this malicious pertinacity,
but I kept down my struggling gorge with a resolution which I had
been compelled often enough to exercise before; and quietly ended
the interview by taking my hat and departure, as I said:-"You are certainly a very sagacious lady, Mrs. Delaney; but
I must leave you, and wait your own time to make these mysterious
revelations. My respects to Mr. Delaney. Good morning."
"Oh, good morning; but let me tell you, Mr. Clifford, if you don't
see, it's not because you can't. Other people can see without
trying."
The Jezabel!
My preparations were soon completed. I worked with the spirit of
enthusiasm--I had so many motives to be active; and, subordinate
among these, but still important, I should get out of the reach
of this very woman. I could not beat her myself but I wished her
husband might do it, and not to anticipate my own story, he did
so in less than three months after. He was the man too, to perform
such a labor with unction and emphasis. A vigorous man with muscles
like bolt-ropes, and limbs that would have been respectable in the
days of Goliah. I met him on leaving the steps of Mrs. Delaney's
lodgings, and--thinking of the marital office I wished him to
perform--I was rejoiced to discover that he was generously drunk--in
the proper spirit for such deeds in the flesh.
He seized my hand with quite a burst of enthusiasm, swore I was a
likely fellow, and somehow he had a liking for me.
"Though, to be sure, my dear fellow, it's not Mrs. Delaney that
loves any bone in your skin. She's a lady that, like most of the
dear creatures, has a way of her own for thinking. She does her own
thinking, and what can a woman know about such a business. It's
to please her that I sit by and say nothing; and a wife must be
permitted some indulgence while the moon lasts, which the poets
tell us, is made out of honey: but it's never a long moon in these
days, and a small cloud soon puts an end to it. Wait till that
time, Mr. Clifford, and I'll put her into a way of thinking, that'll
please you and myself much better."