You can see for yourself."
He handed me a letter in a sprawling, ignorant hand,
but written with violet ink on fine, pink paper, with a
monogram. It was very foolishly expressed, I and I
thought (except for a few obvious cajoleries) very
heartless and greedy in meaning. The writer said she
had been sick, which I disbelieved; declared the last
remittance was all gone in doctor's bills, for which I
took the liberty of substituting dress, drink, and
monograms; and prayed for an increase, which I could
only hope had been denied her.
"I think she is really grateful?" he asked, with some
eagerness, as I returned it.
"I daresay," said I. "Has she any claim on you?"
"O no, sir. I divorced her," he replied. "I have a
very strong sense of self-respect in such matters, and
I divorced her immediately."
"What sort of life is she leading now?" I asked.
"I will not deceive you, Mr. Dodd. I do not know, I
make a point of not knowing; it appears more dignified.
I have been very harshly criticised," he added,
sighing.
It will be seen that I had fallen into an ignominious
intimacy with the man I had gone out to thwart.
Pages:
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493