"How?" I demanded with a momentary cessation of the jest. His gravity
and--to me--the strange error in such an observation--excited my
curiosity.
"In your freedom from jealousy."
"Oh! that, eh? But why should I be jealous?' "It is not exactly why a man should be jealous--but why, knowing
what men are, usually, that you are not. Nine men in ten would be
so under your circumstances?"
"How, what circumstances?"
"With Edgerton in your house--evidently fond of your wife, you
leave them utterly to themselves. You bring him into your house
unnecessarily, and give him every opportunity. I still think you
risk everything imprudently. You may pay for it."
I felt a strange sickness at my heart. I felt that the flame
was beginning to boil up within me. The perilous turning-point of
passion--the crisis of strength and endurance--was at hand My eyes
settled gloomily upon the table. I was silent longer than usual. I
felt THAT, and Loked up. The keen glance of Kingsley was upon me.
It would not do to suffer him to read my feelings. I replied with
some precipitation:-"I see, Kingsley, you are not cared of your prejudices against
Edgerton."
"I am not--I have seen nothing to cure me. But my prejudice against
him, has nothing to do with my opinion of your prudence. Were it
any other man, the case would be the same."
"Well, but I do not think it so clear that Edgerton loves my wife
more than is natural and proper."
"Of the naturalress of his love I say nothing--perhaps, nothing
could be more natural. But that he does love her, and loves her as
no married woman should be loved, by another than her husband, is
clear enough."
"Suppose, then, it be as you say! So long as he does nothing
improperly, there is nothing to be said. There is no evil."
"Ah, but there is evil. There is danger."
"How? I do not see."
"Suppose your wife makes the same discovery which other persons
have made? Suppose she finds out that Edgerton loves her?"
"Well--what then?"
"She can not remain uninfluenced by it. It will affect her feelings
sensibly in some way. No creature in the world can remain insensible
to the attachment of another."
"Indeed! Why, agreeable to that doctrine, there could be no security
from principle. There could be no virtue certain--nay, not even
love."
"Do not mistake me. When I say SHE would be influenced--I do
not mean to say that she would be so influenced as to requite the
illicit sentiment. Far from it. But she must pity or she must scorn.
She may despise or she may deplore. In either case her feelings
would be aroused, and in either case would produce uneasiness if
not unhappiness. I KNOW, Clifford, that your wife perceives the
passion of Edgerton--I am confident, also, that it has influenced
her feelings. What may be the sentiment produced by this influence
I do not pretend to say. I would not insinuate that it is more than
would be natural to the breast of any virtuous woman. She may pity
or she may scorn--she may despise or she may deplore. I know not.
But, in either case, I regard your bringing Edgerton into the house
and conferring upon him so many opportunities, as being calculated
either to make yourself or your wife miserable. In either event
you have done wrong. Look to it--remedy it as soon as you can."