Blind Love

The unworthy scheme, by means of which Lord Harry had proposed to

extricate himself from his pecuniary responsibilities, had led to

serious consequences. It had produced a state of deliberate

estrangement between man and wife.

Iris secluded herself in her own room. Her husband passed the hours of

every day away from the cottage; sometimes in the company of the

doctor, sometimes among his friends in Paris. His wife suffered acutely

under the self-imposed state of separation, to which wounded pride and

keenly felt resentment compelled her to submit. No friend was near her,

in whose compassionate advice she might have token refuge. Not even the

sympathy of her maid was offered to the lonely wife.

With the welfare of Iris as her one end in view, Fanny Mere honestly

believed that it would be better and safer for Lady Harry if she and

her husband finally decided on living separate lives. The longer my

lord persisted in keeping the doctor with him as his guest, the more

perilously he was associated with a merciless wretch, who would be

capable of plotting the ruin of anyone--man or woman, high person or

low person--who might happen to be an obstacle in his way. So far as a

person in her situation could venture on taking the liberty, the maid

did her best to widen the breach between her master and her mistress.

While Fanny was making the attempt to influence Lady Harry, and only

producing irritation as the result, Vimpany was exerting stronger

powers of persuasion in the effort to prejudice the Irish lord against

any proposal for reconciliation which might reach him through his wife.

"I find an unforgiving temper in your charming lady," the doctor

declared. "It doesn't show itself on the surface, my dear fellow, but

there it is. Take a wise advantage of circumstances--say you will raise

no inconvenient objections, if she wants a separation by mutual

consent. Now don't misunderstand me. I only recommend the sort of

separation which will suit our convenience. You know as well as I do

that you can whistle your wife back again--"

Mr. Vimpany's friend was rude enough to interrupt him, there.

"I call that a coarse way of putting it," Lord Harry interposed.

"Put it how you like for yourself," the doctor rejoined. "Lady Harry

may be persuaded to come back to you, when we want her for our grand

project. In the meantime (for I am always a considerate man where women

are concerned) we act delicately towards my lady, in sparing her the

discovery of--what shall I call our coming enterprise?--venturesome

villainy, which might ruin you in your wife's estimation. Do you see

our situation now, as it really is? Very well. Pass the bottle, and

drop the subject for the present."