It was nearly morning before Mrs. Wyndham fell asleep. Before then,
Esther had said a good deal.
"I am not surprised at your loving your husband," she began. "Men like
your husband are worth loving. They are loyal, true, and noble. They
make the world a better place. Once your husband helped me. I am going
to tell you the story.
"Three years ago, Mrs. Wyndham, I was a very different girl from the
one who now is by your side. I was handsome, and vain, and
empty-headed. I thought most of dress and of flirting. I had the
silliest form of ambition. I wanted to be a gentleman's wife. My mother
had been a lady by birth, and I thought it was only due to me to be the
same. My only chance of becoming a lady was by marrying a gentleman,
and I thought surely someone would be found who would make me his wife
for the sake of my handsome face. I had nothing else to recommend me,
Mrs. Wyndham, for I was empty-headed and untrained, and I had a
shallow, vulgar soul.
"One day I was skating in Regent's Park with some friends. I fell on
the ice and hurt my foot. A gentleman picked me up. I looked into his
face in the bold way I had, and then all of a sudden I felt ashamed of
myself, and I looked down, and a modest, humble womanly feeling crept
over me. The gentleman was your husband, Mr. Wyndham; the expression on
his face impressed me, and I could not forget it. He came to our house
that evening and brought a book to my father, and a present of flowers
from you to me. I felt quite silent and queer when he was in the room;
I did not talk, but I listened to every word he said. He was so
uncommon. I thought what a clergyman he'd make, and how, if he were as
eloquent in his words as in his looks, he might make us all good in
spite of ourselves. He made a great impression on me, and I did not
like to think my low silly thoughts after he had gone.
"Soon afterwards I made the acquaintance of a Captain Herriot, in
the --th Hussars; he was a very fine gentleman, and had very fine words,
and although I did not love him a bit nor a scrap, he turned my head
with his flattery. He did go on about my face--I don't know how I ever
was goose enough to believe him. He managed to get my secrets out of me
though, and when I told him that I meant to be a gentleman's wife some
day, he said that he was the gentleman, and that I should marry him,
and him alone. I thought that would be fine, and I believed him. He
made all arrangements--oh, how I hate to think of what I afterwards saw
was his real meaning.
"I was not to let out a thing to my father, and on a certain night we
were to go together to the Gaiety, and he was to take me home
afterwards, and the next morning we were to go to church and be
married. He showed me the license and the ring, and I believed
everything, and thought it would be fine to be the wife of Captain
Herriot.
"I kept my secret from my father, but Cherry, a cousin who lives with
us, got some of it out of me, for I was mad with vain triumph, and it
was indirectly through her that I came to be delivered. The night
arrived, and I went away from my home thinking how proudly I'd come
back to show myself in a day or two; and how Cherry would open her eyes
when I told her I was the wife of Captain Herriot, of the --th Hussars.
I reached the theatre, and Captain Herriot gave me his arm, and led me
into the house, and we took our places in the stalls. People turned and
looked at me, and Captain Herriot said it was no wonder, for I was the
most beautiful woman in the Gaiety that night.
"Then the curtain rose, the house was darkened, and some one took the
empty stall at my other side. I turned my head, Mr. Wyndham was sitting
near me. He said a courteous word or two. I bowed my head; I could not
speak. Madam, I did not see that play; I was there, looking on, but I
saw nothing. Captain Herriot whispered in my ear; I pushed away from
him. Suddenly he was horrible to me. I felt like a girl who was placed
between an angel and a devil. Instantly the mask fell from my eyes.
Captain Herriot meant to ruin me, never to marry me. Mr. Wyndham
scarcely said a word to me till the play was over, then he spoke.
"'Your father wants you,' he said. 'Here is a cab, get into it. I will
take you to your father.'
"He spoke out, quite loud and clear. I thought Captain Herriot would
have fought him. Not a bit of it. His face turned an ugly color. He
took off his hat to me, and slunk away through the crowd. That was the
last straw. He had not even spirit to fight for the girl who thought
she was about to become his wife.
"Mr. Wyndham got on the box of the cab, and took me to Mr. Paget's
offices. My old father came out, and helped me out of the cab, and put
his arms round me. He wrung Mr. Wyndham's hand, and said 'God bless
you, sir;' and then he led me inside, and told me how Cherry had
betrayed me, and how he (my father) had taken that stall ticket
intending to sit beside me that night, and give Captain Herriot a blow
in his face afterwards, as he was known to be one of the greatest
scoundrels going. Pressing business kept my father at the office that
night, and Mr. Wyndham promised to go in his place.
"'There isn't another young gentleman who would do it,' said my father.
'No not another.'
"After that, madam, I was changed; yes, a good bit. I thought I'd live
more worthy. Mr. Wyndham's face used to come between me and frivolous
ways and vain sins. It seemed as if his were the hand to lead me up.
You don't mind, do you, madam, that he should have rescued one poor
girl from the pit of destruction, and that she should love him--yes,
love him for what he has done?"
"Oh, Esther, do I mind? Come here, Esther, come here. Let me put my
arms round you. Kiss me. You have lifted something from my heart--how
much you can never know. Esther, _I_ was at the Gaiety that night, and
I saw my husband with you, and I--I doubted him."
"Madam--_you_?" Esther sprang away--her whole face became crimson.
"I did, Esther; and that was when my love went away like the tide going
out; but now--now----Esther, lie down. Let me hold your hand. I am
sleepy. I can sleep sweetly now."