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"Can it be," I fretted aloud, "that Joe's racing round looking for an Episcopalian preacher, when there was a Methodist at hand?" "I'm sure he wouldn't bring anything but a Church of England priest," Mrs. Ball assured me, loftily. "Why, Miss Ellersly wouldn't think she was married, if she hadn't a priest of her own church." My temper got the bit in its teeth.
When Miss Ellersly finally turned her face toward me to indicate that she would be graciously pleased to listen if I had anything to communicate, I felt as if I were slowly wilting, felt my throat contracting into a dry twist. What was the matter with me?
"It relates to my own family to my wife and myself. As you may have heard, she is no longer a member of the Ellersly family. And I have come to you chiefly because I happen to know your sentiment toward the Ellerslys." "I have no sentiment toward them, sir!" he exclaimed. "They are non-existent, sir nonexistent! Your wife's mother ceased to be a Forrester when she married that scoundrel.
To handle this new business properly I must put myself in position to look the whole field over. I must get in line and in touch with "respectability." When Sam Ellersly came in for his "rations," I said: "Sam, I want you to put me up at the Travelers Club." "The Travelers!" echoed he, with a blank look. "The Travelers," said I. "It's about the best of the big clubs, isn't it?
"That is interesting," said she, her tone suggesting the reverse. "I've offended you by saying frankly what I think," said I. "Of course, it's none of my business." "Oh, no," replied she carelessly. "I'm not in the least offended. Prejudices always interest me." I saw Ellersly and his wife sitting in the drawing-room, pretending to talk to each other.
I looked at Miss Ellersly. She was white to the lips now, and the spangles on her white dress seemed bits of ice glittering there. She said nothing; but I knew she felt my look, and that it froze the ice the more closely in around her heart. "Thank you," I muttered. I stumbled in the hall; I almost fell down the broad steps. I stopped at the first bar and took three drinks in quick succession.
So, when he sent for me shortly after I became engaged to Miss Ellersly, and said: "Melville will publish the plan on the first of next month and will open the subscription books on the third a Thursday," I was taken by surprise and was anything but pleased.
He acted toward any and every attractive woman as if he were free and were regarding her as a possibility, and didn't mind if she flattered herself that he regarded her as a probability. In an aimless sort of way Miss Ellersly, after the Langdons had disappeared, left the drawing-room by the same door. Still aimlessly wandering, she drifted into the library by the hall door.
As if a man's surroundings were not the unfailing index to himself, no matter how much money he spends or how good architects and the like he hires. As if a man could ever buy good taste. I was pleased out of all proportion to its value by what Ellersly and his wife looked and said.
I saw she was going to obey me, and before Mrs. Ellersly could repeat her order I said: "Now, madam, if any one accuses me of having done anything that would cause you to exclude a man from your house, I am ready for the liar and his lie." As I spoke I was searching the weak, bad old face of her husband for an explanation. Their pretense of outraged morality I rejected at once it was absurd.
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