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Updated: June 9, 2025
"If you are not back in time," she said, "I will send for Arnswald and go with him." "I can trust him with you," he answered, and left the room. In a moment he returned, hat in hand. "By the way, Eden, I forgot to ask you have sent out cards, have you not?" "Yes, the world is informed that Mrs. John Usselex is at home on Saturdays."
Menemon smoothed the back of his head reflectively. "Dear me!" he said; "that may all be. I daresay there are hundreds of John Usselexes. You don't expect them to remain bachelors because one of their name-sake gets married, do you?" And with that he nodded and turned with a smile to his daughter. "He can't expect that, Eden, can he?" But Eden's eyes were fixed on Usselex.
Her attention was wholly centered in him. Seemingly her father's words were unheeded. And the old gentleman turned again to Maule. "What evidence have you that this John Usselex is the John Usselex of whom you speak?" he asked; and with the hand with which he had smoothed the back of his head, he now began to caress his chin. But before Maule could answer, Eden caught her father by the arm.
Her voice was unsteady with merriment, her eyes wickedly jubilant. Usselex had made another attempt to recapture the letter, and flaunting it, Tantalus-fashion, above her head, she defied and eluded him, gliding backwards, her head held like a swan's, a trifle to one side. "No, you don't," she repeated, and still the laughter rippled from her. "Eden!" her husband expostulated, "Eden "
Her father, she supposed, was following her, and she was about to address some remark to him, when before her, in the dim light of twin candelabras, she perceived her husband. Usselex was standing bolt upright, in the position of one who has come not to render accounts, but to demand them. In his attitude there was nothing of the repentant sinner, and at sight of him Eden felt herself tricked.
His attitude was tantamount to admission, and as such Eden construed it. "Thank God!" she exclaimed. "O God! I thank you. I am free." She still clutched her father's arm, and Maule made a movement toward her. "Yes," he said, as he did so, "yes, Miss Menemon " But before he could reach her, Usselex barred the way. "By what right, sir " he began, very firmly, but Eden interrupted him.
"Ah, but Eden, you must; you must let it pass. I will speak to Usselex." "That you may, of course; but as for me, I never will." "My child, you are so wrong. What can I say to you? Eden " "Father, he has deceived me. Wantonly, grossly, and without excuse. Speak to him again, I never will " "Eden " " And if I ever see him it will be in court.
As Maule entered he caught the sound of Eden's voice. "I want to see Mrs. Usselex," he said, and without waiting for a reply, he pushed the portière aside. "It is false," he heard Usselex exclaim. For a second Maule hesitated. He would have preferred to have found Eden alone.
At Newport there was a fleeting hesitation. But the exclusion of the bride from entertainments being practically impossible, and moreover, as it is not considered seemly to invite a wife and overlook a husband, both were bidden; and to the surprise of many it was discovered that Usselex had not only as fine an air as many of the foreign noblemen that passed that way, but that he even possessed a keener appreciation of conventionalities.
Usselex stood up at once, but for a little space Eden sat very still, surprised as February at a violet, then rising, she went forward to the window and looked out at the night. From the square beyond came the beat of drums, and on the breeze was borne to her the shrill treble of retreating fifes.
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