The Evil Genius: A Domestic Story — page 165: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

154 THE EVIL GENIUS. She had left the door of the room open. One of the servants of the hotel appeared outside in the passage. He spoke to some erson behind him. ‘*‘ Perhaps the book has been left in here,” e suggested. A gentle voice answered: ‘‘{ hope the lady and entleman will excuse meif Iask leave to look for my book.” she stepped into the room to make her apologies. Herbert Linley and Sydney Westerfield looked at the woman whom they had outraged. The woman whom they had out- raged paused, and looked back at them. The hotel servant was suprised at their not speaking to each other. He was a stupid man; he thought the gentiefolks were strangely unlike gentlefolks in general; they seemed not ta know what tosay. Herbert happened to ke standing nearest te him: he thought it would be only civil to the gentleman to offer ~ word of explanation. ‘The lady had these rooms, sir. She has come back from the station to look for a book that has been left behind.” Herbert signed to him to go. As the man turned to obey he drew back. Sydney had moved to the door before him to leave she room. Herbert refused to permit it. ‘* Stay here,” he said, gently; ‘‘ this room is yours.” Sydney hesitated! fierbert addressed her again. He pointed to his divorced wife. ‘* You see how that lady is looking at: you,” he said; ‘‘ I forbid you to submit to insult from anybody.” Sydney returned inio the room. Catherine’s voice was heard for the first time. She addressed herself to Sydney witha quiet dignity—far removed from anger, further removed still from contempt. ‘*{ do you justice,” she said. ‘‘ You can still feel a sense of shame.” Herbert snatched upthe book. It was only a momentary out. break of anger. The next moment he matched Catherine’s self control; he spoke to her with scrupulous respect. ‘‘ Here is yous book, madam.” She still kept her eyes fixed on Sydney—still spoke to Sydney . ‘* Tell him,” she said. ** that 1 refuse to receive the book.” Sydney aitempted to obey. At the first words she uttered, Herbert checked her once more, ‘‘T have begged you already not to submit to insult.” He turned to Catherine. ‘The book is yours, madam. Why do you refuse to take it ?” She looked at him for the first time. A proud sense of wrony flashed at him its keenly felt indignation in her first glance, Dia his worn face, his wasted figure, plead with her? Those eyes that had so often looked love at him softened with sorrow. She elgned to him to lay the book down. ‘* No,” she said; ‘‘ not from your hands, and not from hers, I leave the book—I leave vou.” She moved to the door, and looked hack at Sydney. ‘* Poor creature!” she murmured to herself. ‘The faint sound of her dress on the carpet was heard in the perfect stiilness, ang lost again. They saw herno more. Herbert approached Sydney. It was a moment when he wag wound to assure her of his sympathy, and even of his respect Gomichbooks co m