The New Magdalen

"Two hours later--I give you my word of honor I am not

exaggerating--Mercy Merrick was established at Julian's bedside.

"The excuse, of course, was that it was her duty not to let any private

scruples of her own stand in the way, when a medical authority had

declared that she might save the patient's life. You will not be

surprised to hear that I withdrew from the scene. The physician followed

my example--after having written his soothing prescription, and having

been grossly insulted by the local practitioner's refusing to make use

of it. I went back in the doctor's carriage. He spoke most feelingly and

properly. Without giving any positive opinion, I could see that he

had abandoned all hope of Julian's recovery. 'We are in the hands of

Providence, Mr. Holmcroft;' those were his last words as he set me down

at my mother's door.

"I have hardly the heart to go on. If I studied my own wishes, I should

feel inclined to stop here.

"Let me, at least, hasten to the end. In two or three days' time I

received my first intelligence of the patient and his nurse. Lady

Janet informed me that he had recognized her. When I heard this I felt

prepared for what was to come. The next report announced that he was

gaining strength, and the next that he was out of danger. Upon this

Lady Janet returned to Mablethorpe House. I called there a week ago--and

heard that he had been removed to the sea-side. I called yesterday--and

received the latest information from her ladyship's own lips. My pen

almost refuses to write it. Mercy Merrick has consented to marry him!

"An outrage on Society--that is how my mother and my sisters view

it; that is how _you_ will view it too. My mother has herself struck

Julian's name off her invitation-list. The servants have their orders,

if he presumes to call: 'Not at home.' "I am unhappily only too certain that I am correct in writing to you

of this disgraceful marriage as of a settled thing. Lady Janet went the

length of showing me the letters--one from Julian, the other from the

woman herself. Fancy Mercy Merrick in correspondence with Lady Janet

Roy! addressing her as 'My dear Lady Janet,' and signing, 'Yours

affectionately!' "I had not the patience to read either of the letters through. Julian's

tone is the tone of a Socialist; in my opinion his bishop ought to be

informed of it. As for _her_ she plays her part just as cleverly with

her pen as she played it with her tongue. 'I cannot disguise from myself

that I am wrong in yielding.... Sad forebodings fill my mind when I

think of the future.... I feel as if the first contemptuous look that

is cast at my husband will destroy _my_ happiness, though it may not

disturb _him_.... As long as I was parted from him I could control my

own weakness, I could accept my hard lot. But how can I resist him after

having watched for weeks at his bedside; after having seen his first

smile, and heard his first grateful words t o me while I was slowly

helping him back to life?' "There is the tone which she takes through four closely written pages

of nauseous humility and clap-trap sentiment! It is enough to make one

despise women. Thank God, there is the contrast at hand to remind me of

what is due to the better few among the sex. I feel that my mother and

my sisters are doubly precious to me now. May I add, on the side of

consolation, that I prize with hardly inferior gratitude the privilege

of corresponding with _you?_ "Farewell for the present. I am too rudely shaken in my most cherished

convictions, I am too depressed and disheartened, to write more. All

good wishes go with you, dear Miss Roseberry, until we meet.