After the Storm

Mrs. Emerson did not feel altogether comfortable in mind as she

rode away from her door alone. She was going unattended by her

husband, and against his warmly-spoken remonstrance, to pass an

evening with people of whom she knew but little, and against whom he

had strong prejudices.

"It were better to have remained at home," she said to herself more

than once before her arrival at Mrs. Talbot's. The marked attentions

she received, as well from Mrs. Talbot as from several of her

guests, soon brought her spirits up to the old elevation. Among

those who seemed most attracted by her was Major Willard, to whom

reference has already been made.

"Where is your husband?" was almost his first inquiry on meeting

her. "I do not see him in the room."

"He had to meet a gentleman on business over in Brooklyn this

evening," replied Irene.

"Ah, business!" said the major, with a shrug, a movement of the

eyebrows and a motion in the corners of his mouth which were not

intelligible signs to Mrs. Emerson. That they meant something more

than he was prepared to utter in words, she was satisfied, but

whether of favorable or unfavorable import touching her absent

husband, she could not tell. The impression on her mind was not

agreeable, and she could not help remembering what Hartley had said

about the major.

"I notice," remarked the latter, "that we have several ladies here

who come usually without their husbands. Gentlemen are not always

attracted by the feast of reason and the flow of soul. They require

something more substantial. Oysters and terrapin are nearer to their

fancy."

"Not more to my husband's fancy," replied Mrs. Emerson, in a tone of

vindication, as well as rebuke at such freedom of speech.

"Beg your pardon a thousand times, madam!" returned Major Willard,

"if I have even seemed to speak lightly of one who holds the honored

position of your husband. Nothing could have been farther from my

thought. I was only trifling."

Mrs. Emerson smiled her forgiveness, and the major became more

polite and attentive than before. But his attentions were not wholly

agreeable. Something in the expression of his eyes as he looked at

her produced an unpleasant repulsion. She was constantly remembering

some of the cautions spoken by Hartley in reference to this man, and

she wished scores of times that he would turn his attentions to some

one else. But the major seemed to have no eyes for any other lady in

the room.

In spite of the innate repulsion to which we have referred, Mrs.

Emerson was flattered by the polished major's devotion of himself

almost wholly to her during the evening, and she could do no less in

return than make herself as agreeable as possible.

At eleven o'clock she had notice that her carriage was at the door.

The major was by, and heard the communication. So, when she came

down from the dressing-room, he was waiting for her in the hall,

ready cloaked and gloved.