Man and Maid

There are still possibilities of complications here!

But I feel quite serene, Alathea will be mine. She cannot get away from

me. I can insidiously, from day to day, carry out my plan of winning

her, and the tougher the fight is, the more it will be worth while

afterwards!

November 6th.

To-day was really wonderful! Mr. Nelson has presumably seen Alathea and

her family several times. I have refused to hear anything about it, and

he arrived with her alone at the Hotel de Courville. I had understood

that her mother was coming with her, but she was ill and did not turn

up.

The Duchesse and I were talking when the two were announced. Alathea was

in a nice little grey frock and had her glasses on. I think she knew the

Duchesse would not approve of that camouflage, because there was an air

of defiance about her, her rebellious Cupid's bow of a mouth was shut

sternly, she was even quite repellant,--she has never attracted me more!

The Duchesse was sweet to her and made no remark about the glasses, but

was called back to the ward almost immediately for a little, and while

she was gone Mr. Nelson read over the settlement.

"I think you are giving me a great deal too much," Alathea said

annoyedly. "I shall feel uncomfortable,--and chained."

"I intend my wife to have this." I answered quietly. "So I am afraid you

will have to agree."

She pulled in her lips but said no more until the part about the

children came, when she started to her feet, her cheeks crimson.

"What is this ridiculous clause?" she asked angrily.

Old Mr. Nelson looked unspeakably shocked. "It is customary in all

marriage settlements, my dear young lady," he said reprovingly, and

Alathea looked at me with suspicion, but she said nothing, and the

Duchesse, returning then to the room, all was soon signed, sealed and

delivered! Mr. Nelson withdrew, saying he would call for Miss Bulteel

next day for the wedding.

When we were alone the Duchesse kissed us both.

"I hope for your happiness, my children," she said. "I know you both,

and your droll characters, the time will come when you may know each

other, and in any case, I feel that you will both remember that tenue,

a recognition of correct behaviour, helps all situations in life, and

the rest is in the hands of the Bon Dieu."

Then she left us again, and Alathea sat stiffly down upon an

uncompromising little Louis XV canapé out of my reach. I did not move

or speak, indeed I lit a cigarette casually.