Most women are restless when they are in anxiety. Katherine felt motion

to be a mental disturbance. She sat down, and remained still as a carven

image, thinking over what had been told her. There had been a time when

her husband's constant talk of Lady Suffolk had pained her, and when she

had been a little jealous of the apparent familiarity which existed in

their relations with each other; but Hyde had laughed at her fears, and

she had taken a pride in putting his word above all her suspicions.

She had seen him receive letters which she knew to be from Lady Suffolk.

She had seen him read and destroy them without remark. She was aware

that many a love-billet from fine ladies followed him to Hyde. But it

was in accord with the integrity of her own nature to believe in her

husband's faithfulness. She had made one inquiry on the subject, and his

assurance at that time she accepted as a final settlement of all doubts.

And if she had needed further evidence, she had found it in his

affectionate and constant regard for her, and in his love for his child

and his home.

It was also a part of Katherine's just and upright disposition to make

allowances for the life by which her husband was surrounded. She

understood that he must often be placed in circumstances of great

temptation and suspicion. Hyde had told her that there were necessarily

events in his daily experience of which it was better for her to be

ignorant. "They belong to it, as my uniform does," he said; "they are a

part of its appearance; but they never touch my feelings, and they never

do you a moment's wrong, Katherine." This explanation it had been the

duty both of love and of wisdom to accept; and she had done so with a

faith which asked for no conviction beyond it.

And now she was told that for years he had been the lover of another

woman; that her own existence was doubted or denied; that if it were

admitted, it was with a supposition which affected both her own good

name and the rights of her child. In those days, America was at the ends

of the earth. A war with it was imminent. The Colonies might be

conquered. She knew nothing of international rights, nor what changes

such a condition might render possible. Hyde was the probable

representative of an ancient noble English family, and its influence was

great: if he really wished to annul their marriage, perhaps it was in

his power to do so. She knew well how greedy rank was of rank and

riches, and she could understand that there might be powerful family

reasons for an alliance which would add Lady Suffolk's wealth to the

Hyde earldom.




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