The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 114: what you’re looking at

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

THE WIFE 3 97 tion. “ A party made expressly for the Villebelles. It was absolutely necessary to invite them, for the marquis and I were schoolfellows, though he is some three or four years older than myself.” “You seem annoyed, my dear leat? observed his wife, gazing upon him with tender anxiety, “‘ that the Mar- quis and Marchioness of Villebelle should have been invited.”’ “Oh, no! not annoyed, I can assure you!’ exclaimed the viscount, forcing himself to laugh with an assumed gaiety. ‘“‘ Annoyed? no, that is out of the question, only I was thinking that it was just possible I might be detained by business — ”’ ‘“ Pardon me for asking the question,’’ said the viscountess, kindly, “ but have you, my dear Jules, anything to trouble you? Ifso, pray speak, that I may do my best to soothe and console you.’’ “Trouble me, Stephanie! ’’ he cried. ‘‘ What could have put such an idea into your head? ”’ “ Only,’ she answered, still more timidly and reluctantly than before, ‘‘ because — because you have been away from home so much of late — that — that —I was fearful you had some business of a disagreeable nature — ”’ “And pray, Stephanie,’’ exclaimed the viscount, some- what sharply, “‘ can I not be away a few hours of a day with- out subjecting myself to be thus catechized? ”’ “ Oh, catechized, Jules! No —no— not for the world. I did not mean that,” and as the big tears rolled down the poor young lady’s cheeks, she rose from her place at the table, and throwing her arms around her husband’s neck, besought him in a broken voice to pardon her if she had offended him. - “ Offended me, no, Stephanie. You have not offended me,’”’ he said, forcing himself to give a single caress for the dozens she lavished upon him, and then he suddenly re- pulsed her, as if the kiss which he had bestowed was an act of treason toward Augusta Chesterfield. Thus did he prove himself more scrupulously considerate on behalf of his mistress who was elsewhere, than on behalf of his beautiful wife who was there present, doing her best to demonstrate the love she bore him. “ Jules, wherefore repulse me?”’ she murmured, with a look of such deprecating tenderness that his conscience was COnNIEDOOKS (C(O)