even she did not escape a portion of the abuse which the unfeeling blackguard showered on his wife, charging her with an undue partiality for me, to whom he loudly declared his honour had been sacrificed, and it was not until he had become completely exhausted by the fury of his passion that he suffered himself to be persuaded that his wife was innocent.
Peace having been thus restored and the fond couple left alone, Mr. E., probably ashamed of his late conduct, endeavoured by the most abject protestations to regain the affections of his wife and induce her to admit him once again to the privileges of a husband from which he had been so long excluded. He went on his knees before her and in the most earnest terms begged she would pardon his late unjust suspicions, which having at length obtained he proceeded to urge his suit still further. By receiving him again to her arms he should be at once satisfied that he was really forgiven and the remaining portion of his life should be passed in one continued endeavour to promote her happiness. What could she do? The proof she had that evening received of my inconstancy was sufficient to convince her that her dependence upon me was indeed precarious-she had no security that I was not at that very moment seeking for a plausible excuse to abandon her for another; added to which her positive conviction that certain 'living consequences' of our indiscretion would soon become apparent; and in the event of which, as she had too much reason to fear, finding herself deserted by me, how could she account to her husband for such an addition to his family when she had for so many months estranged herself from his arms.
Under these circumstances, having no alternative, she yielded to his importunities and submitted herself once more to his loathed embraces. With the utmost mortification I listened to the hateful story, nor could I chide the amiable sufferer. I only was to blame; but although in justice compelled to admit that she was blameless, I from that moment abandoned the idea of ever making her my own undivided property, and it was not until after the birth of her child that I succeeded in my endeavours to persuade her to renew our former intimacy; but this once accomplished was never afterwards denied; for as she candidly acknowledged in one fond hour of blissful dalliance, notwithstanding my ungenerous conduct and her strenuous endeavors to drive me from her thoughts, the impression I had made upon her heart was too deep ever to be eradicated, and though compelled by circumstances to yield obedience to her wedded lord her love was all my own.
Owing to my precaution, Mr. E. never had an opportunity of seeing us together; for obvious reasons I had ceased to be his tenant and our interviews took place at my own private lodgings, I having introduced her to my new landlady as an only sister, under which character we passed many happy hours together.
Her husband, as she told me, seldom mentioned my name except, indeed, when some of his former suspicions would for a moment revive as he gazed upon his infant son, when he would exclaim, 'The boy is cursedly like that infernal singer. I don't know how it is, Bess! I think you've acted right enough; but people can't at all times command their thoughts and when he was got, I'm d-d if you were not thinking more of the blasted tenor than you was of me.'
I will now proceed with my tale. I suppose that towards the approach of day I must have fallen into a troubled sleep, for I was awoke about eight o'clock in the morning by the gruff voice of Mr. E., who exclaimed as he rapped at my door, 'Hallo, there! here's a letter for you. I have thrust it under the door and there's a youngster waiting for an answer.'
I immediately leaped from my bed and opening the note read as follows:
My dearest Love,
After the occurrences of last night, I tremble to address you; but if your heart is not devoid of pity, pray let me see you once again; I am very very ill, and have much to tell you. For God's sake, come some time today, and do not by a refusal add to the despair of the wretched Delia.
I partly unclosed the door and requested Mr. E. to inform the bearer that the writer's request should be attended to; I then hurried on my clothes and, the weather being fine, took a seat in the garden, pretending to be occupied in the perusal of a book. I was in fact anxiously expecting that chance would favour me with an opportunity of seeking an explanation with my insulted Bessy, for I now remembered that it was the Sabbath and consequently the husbands of my two enamoured fair ones would in all probability remain at home the whole of the day.
At one end of the garden was a small building which was used as a wash house, etc., and was in fact continually open for the accommodation of all. I accordingly placed my chair in such a position that in order to reach this place the person wishing to do so must pass so very closely to where I was sitting as to be within hearing of the softest whisper.
I had not remained long here ere the gentle Emma came tripping down the path, eyeing me as she advanced with a look full of meaning, while a malicious smile was playing round the corners of her tempting mouth. I would have caught her round the waist, but with a lightning glance at an upper window she gave me to understand that she was not unwatched; this, however, did not prevent her as she returned from pausing for a moment while in a subtle tone she archly exclaimed,
'Now, can you say that I am a false prophetess. Did I not tell you long ago, that Mrs. E. would betray herself, and has she not done so with a witness?' And shaking her finger archly at me, she departed.
In a few minutes after, with swollen eyes and downcast brow, Bessy entered the garden. As she approached me our eyes met. I was about to take,her hand, but with a withering frown and a forced smile expressive of the utmost contempt she avoided my touch; and as she returned in a moment after, passed me with averted face, scorning to favour me with a single glance. In returning to my room, her door (which I have said fronted mine) stood open, and to add to my mortification at the very moment that she was conscious my eyes were upon her she placed her hand upon her husband's shoulder, and as he looked upwards into her face with the utmost satisfaction pressed a kiss upon his willing lips!
This was too much; and with feelings compared to which those of the damned would have been enviable, I entered my apartment, swallowed a huge bumper of the strongest brandy, and then, in order to conceal from her the effects of her cruelty, sat down to my piano and for the next hour continued to play a succession of the most lively and exhilarating melodies.
Having at length succeeded in soothing my ruffled spirits, I dressed myself with the utmost care, and, prompted by something like vanity in order that she might see and contrast my gay appearance with that of her loutish husband, I rapped at her door, which being opened by herself, I, with the greatest self-composure, stated that in the event of any enquiries being made for me I should not be home until the following evening.
I was revenged. It was now her turn to suffer. The blood rushed into her face and it was with the greatest difficulty that she could articulate,
'Very well, sir.' I then with a polite bow closed the door and quitted the house.
Having made an early dinner at a respectable ordinary, I hastened to Islington. The door was opened by the old lady whose appearance I have already described and who, with a low chuckle, beckoning me to follow, led the way upstairs, opened the door, and immediately taking her departure I was left alone with Delia.
She was reclining on the bed, her lovely eyes suffused in tears, and, amongst other evils, labouring under that most tedious of all painsthe toothache. She smiled as I approached and extended her hand, which I received but coldly; for, to speak candidly, the idea of her having passed the night in the arms of a man old enough to be her father had considerably cooled my ardour; since I am, notwithstanding my love of variety, rather delicate in matters of a tender nature.
She doubtlessly guessed the nature of my thoughts and when, after some time passed in conversation, I acknowledged that such was indeed the subject of them, she exclaimed with a look of the most tender reproach, 'And do you think me then so abandoned a creature as to have sent for you had I suffered myself to have been abused so recently? Do you believe that I could have submitted to the embraces of so loathsome a wretch when my soul was full of love for you? No!
Death itself would have been much more welcome. It was no difficult task for me to make the old dotard believe that I was too unwell to receive his caresses. I walked the room during the whole of the night and he is now on his way to the continent, from whence he will not return for many weeks; it is in consequence of my remaining for so long a time partly undressed, and with the window open, that I am suffering the pain I now endure.'
This was really the case; the poor girl had taken a violent cold in consequence of her devotion to me. Could I remain insensible to the advances of such a creature? No. I pressed her to my arms and covered her with ardent kisses! This done I went on to remind her of the soliloquy I had been so miraculously privileged to overhear on the previous evening and of the divine pleasure she was causing me at the moment of our cruel interruption. I assured her of my anxiety to reciprocate in kind and of the zest which I was convinced the preliminary insertion of my
