Miss Harrington's Husband. A novel

Front matter

MISS HAEEINGTON'S HUSBAND. FLORENCE MARRYAT'S NOVELS. Cheap Editions. In, Handsome Cloth Binding, Gilt Top, Is. 6d. each. Gerald Estcourt. Love's Conflict. Too Good for Him. Her Lord and Master. The Prey of the Gods. The Girls of Feversham. mad Dumaresq. Woman against Woman. For Ever and Ever. No Intentions. PetroneL NeUy Brooke. Veronique. Mount Eden. London: HUTCHINSON & CO. I., 25, Paternoster Square. MISS HAEEINGTON'S HUSBAND. A NOVEL. BT FLOEENCE MAEEYAT, 1/ A0TH0R OF 'LOVE'S CONFLICT," "WOMAN AGAINST WOMAN," "HER LORD AND MASTER,'' ETC, ETC. LONDON : HUTCHINSON & CO., 25, PATERNOSTER SQUARE. " They are the spiders of society ; They weave their petty webs of lies and sneers, And lie themselves in ambush for the spoil." Lamdoit. Printed by Hazell, Watson, & Viney, Ld., Londun and Aylesbury.

CONTENTS. CHAP. PAnE I. "The Cousins". i II. The Society Patron .... 9 III. Husband and Wife . . . . .10 IV. Behind the Scenes 25 V. The Bosom Friend 33 VI. The American Manager . . . .41 VII. The Aristocratic Family ... 50 VIII. The Father-in-Law 59 IX. Afternoon Tea 69 X. The Parting 7G XL On the Atlantic 83 XII. New Faces 93 XIII. A Rupture . . . . • . .99 XIV. A Practical Woman . . . . 10S XV. A Terrible Mistake . . . .115 VI CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE XVI. An Argument 122 XVII. The Confidante 131 XVIII. The Letters 140 XIX. A True Friend 151 XX. The Diary 160 XXI. The Digger's Dinner . . .169 XXII. News from Home . . . .178 XXIII. A Modern Hero . . . . ]86 XXIV. Homeward Bound . . . .194 XXV. Going to Far 203 XXVI. Private Theatricals. . . .214 XXVII. The Rivals 224 XXVIII. The Last Link 232 XXIX.

A Sorry Welcome . . . .240 XXX. In Chambers 248 XXXI. The Last Chance . . . .256 XXXII. A Second Disappointment . . 266 XXXIII. A New Friend 2 273 XXXIV. Lady Moberley 284 XXXV. The Family Conclave . . . 295 XXXVI. An Accident 303 XXXVII. A Recognition 312 XXXVIII. "Haunted" CONTENTS. VII CHAP. PAGE XXXIX. The First Night . 330 XL. A Surprise 338 XLI. An Explanation 346 XLII. A Discovery ... .356 XLIII. The Earl's Advice , . . .365 XLIV. Met to Part 374 XLV. At Summerhayes .

Chapter I

" the cousins." The house in which the room was situated wu"s one of a street leading out of Park Lane — small but expensive — and the apartment bore evidence of good taste. The curtains and chair-covers were of the palest pink cretonne, with shadowy flowers in grey traced upon it. The windows and the bed were shrouded in lace, and the oval mirror on the toilet-table was set in a frame of china cupids and roses. Photographs of well-known paintings adorned the delicately-tinted walls, and the scent of flowers pervaded the atmo sphere. The adjoining dressing-room displayed still more signs of luxury and comfort. Silver cases, and cut-glass bottles, and ivory-backed brushes, emblazoned with monograms, were thrown about in lavish profu sion. The easy-chair was of velvet, the furniture of the washing-stand was of Indian china.

Embroidered slippers, and a quilted satin dressing-grown — to say nothing of pipe-racks and cigar-cases— showed that this apartment was dedicated to the use of one of the sterner sex, and that he was a man who loved his ease, and was accustomed to take it. It was an afternoon in July, and for some time the chambers had been vacated. But evidently the house was not empty. The windows stood open, the air was very still, and every sound could be heard from below. Voices, not loud but distinct, rose in altercation from the dining room, where the master and mistress of the house sat at luncheon, and continued for some time —the man's being far the louder and angrier of the two. At last the quarrel seemed to be at an end. The husband stamped through the hall and out at the front door, slamming it violently behind him, and after a pause of a few minutes the wife walked quietly upstairs, and entered the bedroom.

She was a beautiful woman of about five-and-twenty. She had a tall slight figure, but symmetrically rounded at the bust and arms, chesnut hair, deep blue eyes, a straight nose, delicate complexion," and pointed chin with a dimple in it. Her face moreover bore the indication of great power, combined with the sensitive ness that always accompanies genius. It was a pas sionate face, in every sense of the word. One could see at a glance that she was a loving, jealous, quick tempered woman, who might bear a great deal up to a certain point, but once thoroughly roused would find it difficult to forgive. She was a society actress, well known and appre ciated in town, and the wife of Captain Gerard Legh, but she was generally called by her maiden name of Georgie Harrington. As she came into the room now, her cheeks were crimson and her eyes were darting fire.

She had evidently been repressing her feelings with some difficulty whilst below, and now they would have their sway. Her face twitched curiously as she walked up and down the narrow space for some minutes in silence; and then suddenly sinking down upon a couch that stood at the foot of the bed, she gave vent to the burden that oppressed her in a burst of tears. How she wept ! every now and then her "the cousins." 3 sobs subsided, and it seemed as if she must have exhausted herself, and had no more strength to cry. And then the storm would commence again, and rise, by little and little, till it had reached the culminating point, and she would cast herself, face downwards, on the cushions of the sofa, and writhe in the mental pain that was torturing her. When she was at her worst, when her face was blistered and her eyelids so swollen she could hardly see out of them, there came a gentle tap at the closed door.

" What is it ? " she demanded. " Only me, Rachel ; and," replied her lady's-maid, " Miss Lacy's here, please, and would like to see you." " Very good. Ask her to come up." And then Georgie Harrington passed her handkerchief several times over her wet face and sat up, and tried to look more like herself. In another minute Miss Lacy, who was her cousin, entered the room. " Why, my dear Georgie ! " she exclaimed, as she kissed her warmly, " what is the matter ? Has that horrible man been ill-treating you again ? " At this question her cousin's lip quivered, and she had great difficulty in restraining her tears from flowing afresh. " It is too bad ! " exclaimed Marian Lacy indignantly, as she sat down by her on the couch and took her hand. " It's the same thing, day after day, and you'll make yourself ill and unfit for work if you cry like this."

" I cannot help it," replied Georgie, as she tried to swallow her sobs. " Gerard flew out at me to-day, worse than ever, and all about my business trans actions with Mr. Brabazon Chauncey. How am I to pursue my profession, or to make any money, if I am not even to be allowed to speak to an agent on the subject ? " " It is too absurdly ridiculous," said Miss Lacy, " and Captain Legh is going a great deal too far. If he is so particular as all that, I wonder he doesn t work for you, instead of allowing you to work for him. Then the business men would fall to his share, and he could leave you in peace at home." " He does try to get work," interposed Georgie, " at least he tells me so. He is always asking people, but you see he can't do anything. And his father, Lord Kinlock, is so set against it.

None of the family have ever been in trade or business." Marian Lacy shrugged her shoulders. " And so dear Gerard prefers to live upon his wife instead, and to worry her until she has no heart left for her work. Georgie, I always told you what would come of this marriage, but you wouldn't believe me." " I know you warned me against it, Marian, but — I loved him so." " You had a fancy, you mean, for his handsome face and figure, and were flattered at the idea of being con nected with an aristocratic family. But what good did you expect from an actress marrying a man of his rank and position ? The aristocratic family have never noticed yon, and the whole thing in ending in a smash." She was an attractive woman, this Marian Lacy, though in a different style from Georgie Harrington. She had dark eyes and hair, a slender figure, small hands and feet, and a great capacity for conversation.

She could hold men for hours by her fascinating talk alone, and most of them preferred her to more beautiful women. She was not on the stage, but so associated with actors and actresses that she spoke and felt like one of themselves. " It's all very well to argue the point, Marian," said Georgie, with a sigh, " but the fact remains. Gerard singled me out for his wife, and declared I should never step upon the stage again. A twelvemonth after, on account of his extravagance, I was compelled to resume my profession, and my life has been one " THE COUSINS." 5 long misery since. He can never say enough against the stage and its followers. He abuses all artists, and calls them opprobrious epithets. He does not believe in the virtue of any actress, and I suppose he classes me with the rest. In fact, Marian, I am sick and tired of it all, and I cannot bear it any longer."

"I don't wonder at it, my dear. / should have cut the whole concern long ago. The wonder is that you've lived with Captain Legh so long. Not another woman in the world would have done it." " But he can be very charming, Marian, when he chooses. Can I ever forget the first days in which I met him ? I thought he was a god upon earth." " I daresay you did — before you married him. But see how he has treated you since. He spends half the day in bed, and the other half at his club; and should he condescend to look in at the theatre in the evening, it is not to see you home, but to flirt with some of the other actresses. You remember the fuss there was about him and Lola Singleton." " Don't mention it;" cried Georgie. " It nearly broke my heart." "And still you profess to love him. I cannot understand it.

He's the most selfish man I ever came across. It was a bad day for you, my poor Georgie, when you went to the Rudigers', and met him." " Ah ! do you remember it ? " cried the other, brightening up until her beautiful face looked radiant. " It was a Sunday evening, and I was so tired I said at first that I could not go. But you persuaded me ; and when it was nearly over, and we were ready to return home, Mr. Coles brought Gerard up to introduce to us, and it was all over with me from that moment. I thought him the handsomest and most aristocratic-looking man that I had ever met, and I think so still. Wherever I go, my husband is always the best-looking man in the room." "That would be well enough," ::marked Marian, " if he kept his fascinations for you. But as his wife is the last person he thinks of in society, my apprecia tion of his charms would not rank so high as yours.

In plain words, Georgie, the time has come when you must act for yourself. He will kill you if this sort of thing goes on. What was the quarrel about this morning ? " " Sissie ! Gerard says she is far too old to be about the house when I am so often absent, and I ought to send her to school. And when I replied I could not part with her, he was cruel enough to say I kept her because- — because " " Because what ? " " She helped me in my flirtations, and prevented his knowing what was going on. And you know, Marian, I have not deserved that." " You — who have never looked at another man since he married you — who are making yourself positively disliked in the profession for your coldness and supposed pride. Georgie, that man ought to be horse whipped, and if I were you I would not stand it." " I don't mean to stand it.

That is why we quarrelled. Gerard declared Sissie should go to school, and I said she shouldn't. I cannot part with her, Marian. I promised my dear mother on her death bed that I never would. And since it is my money that provides her teachers, surely I may do as I think fit with it." " Captain Legh evidently imagines you should not. By the way, Georgie, how do you manage about your money ? You must be making a great deal. Do you invest it ? " " No. I pay it into my husband's bank. There is no meum and tuum between us." " And he spends it as he chooses ? " " He has never denied me anything I may want," replied Georgie, colouring " the cousins." 7 " Except what yon like most — the society of your little sister. You will have to part with Sissie yet, Georgie." " / never will," cried Georgie Harrington passionately.

" Don't I slave night after night to provide the means by which this house is supported, and we all live ? Why should my orphan sister be deprived of sharing in the benefit of my success ? My dear, dying mother left her to my care, and sooner than part with her " " What will you do ? " interposed Miss Lacy. " Leave Gerard himself," replied Georgie, with fixed teeth. " Well, I don't blame you," said her cousin. " You've done more than enough for him already. He swaggers about town on your money, and doesn't give you as much as a ' thank you ' in return. Only the other day I heard that he passed himself off in Paris as an unmarried man ! " " Don't tell me of it, please," said Georgie, with her hand to her side. " Very well ! we'll drop the subject. But you know it's true. He can live on your earnings, but he's ashamed of the very means from which he derives his livelihood.

I am sure the very best thing you can do, my dear, is to leave him ! " " Perhaps it is," replied Georgie ; " but it is very hard, Marian, to think of leaving a man who has been everything to you for the last three years. It is like cutting one's very heart out. All the interest in life will be over for me, when I have to work for myself alone. And yet — the cruel insults he heaps upon me in his tempers are almost worse to bear." " It is very plain that he does not care two straws for you,'" said Miss Lacy, "and I begin to doubt if he ever did. I suppose he thought you were a good speculation, and would save him from the necessity of working. And you have been so foolishly fond of him ever since, and shown your affection so openly, that he imagines nothing will make you separate from him. Now, just take my advice, my dear, and show him he is not paramount.

Why should you make a point of remaining in London? Look out for a good pro vincial engagement, and leave my gentleman for a few months to see after himself. That would bring him to his senses, and make him value you a little more than he does at present." "But he will not consent to my going into the provinces," replied Georgie ; " I was offered an ex cellent ' starring ' engagement wdth the ' Valley of Joy' Company — indeed, I believe Mr. Brabazon Chauncey holds it open for me — but Gerard was dead against it. In fact, it was the cause of the terrible quarrel we had last week." " Georgie ! I have no patience with you ! " ex claimed her cousin. "You let that man spend all your money, order your affairs, and bully you into the bargain. You were a fool to refuse that engagement. What did Brabazon Chauncey offer you ?

" " Forty pounds a week." " Take it, my dear. You will thank me for the advice by-and-by." " But Gerard will be miserable living here alone." " Let him be miserable," laughed Miss Lacy. " It will do him good. I suppose he has some money of his own to live on ? " " Only two hundred a year." " It's quite enough, and if he feels the want of the luxuries with which you have provided him, so much the better. Show him that you are independent, and he will respect you all the more. Why should you be abused, and insulted, and made a slave of, when you may have peace and liberty by only stretching out your hand for them ? " But this question was never answered, for at the same moment a carriage stopped before the door, and a thundering knock reverberated through the house. Marian Lacy flew to the window.

" It's Lady Henry ! " she exclaimed, " and actually alone, unless she has hidden Sir Fulke under the cushions. Georgie ! you must go down and see her ! "

Chapter II. The Society Patron

" I cannot see her," said Georgie Harrington. " My eyes and nose are so swollen. I look a perfect sight. And she will guess I have been crying, and tell the story all over London. Yet — now I remember, she appointed this afternoon to talk over the Hatleigh theatricals. Marian, dear ! what shall I do ? " " Bathe your face in cold water, and put on a becoming wrapper. I will precede you, and tell her ladyship you have had neuralgia all night, and would see no one but herself. That will put her in a good temper, and she'll excuse anything. Don't be afraid she'll find out, Georgie. Neuralgia always makes one look as if one had been crying." " I will make an effort," said Georgie, walking to the washing-stand, " for it will never do for me to get out of favour at Hatleigh. The Prince and Princess of Wales were at their last garden party " The visitor being announced, Miss Lacy went down to entertain her, until her cousin should be ready, and pending her appearance they discussed the absent, after the manner of women.

" III ! poor thing," said Lady Henry Masham, in answer to Marian's apologies. " Well ! I don't wonder at it, considering the way in which Captain Legh neglects her. I assure you, my dear Miss Lacy, every one in town is talking about it. His flirtation with Svlvia Marchmont is perfectly disgraceful. A married man should have more respect for himself. I should throw up my engagement at the ' Delphian,' just to spite him, if I were Miss Harrington." "I don't see what good that would do," replied Marian Lacy. " If there is any doubt of Captain Legh's integrity (of which we know nothing), my cousin had better remain on the spot to check his actions. But I think you are too In.-d on him, Lady Henry. He may not be an immaculate husband, but I suppose he is no worse than others. And as for Sylvia Marchmont, she's a perfect child."

Lady Henry nodded her head significantly. " Not such a child as you think, my dear ; and Sir Fulke Greville tells me all the clubs are talking about it. But if poor dear Miss Harrington knows nothing, it is as well, perhaps, to leave her in ignorance." " I don't see how she should know it," returned Marian ; " she is always on the stage when Sylvia is off. Besides, Captain Legh is very seldom at the theatre. He generally spends his evenings at the club." " Well, Lord Henry and I have always led such a perfectly open and confidential life with each other that, perhaps, I am not competent to judge," observed her ladyship, with an air of the extremest virtue, " and of course I know nothing of Captain Legh's doings, except from hearsay. Such things do not come within my range of cognisance. But people ivill talk.

And Miss Harrington is such a sweet creature. It seems a thousand pities she should be deceived." At this tirade Marian Lacy opened her eyes in the utmost astonishment. Lady Henry Masham was a woman of about forty, well preserved, as ladies of the present day (who know their way to Unwin & Albert's) generally are. She was a clever amateur actress, and spent all her time and half her money on her favourite amusement. She possessed a confiding husband in Lord Henry, who was well content to remain at home, whilst his wife ran over the country with Sir Fulke Greville, and a company of stage-struck ladies and gentlemen, playing wherever it pleased their fancy to do so. Some people thought that such unusual pro ceedings on the part of the wife of a respectable gentleman did not entitle her to make any great strictures on the conduct of other women.

But Lady Henry was a model of virtue in her own estimation, and no one was harder than she was on the faults of her neighbours. She refused to believe that poor Lady Greville's life was spoilt by the continual absence of her husband on these theatrical tours, or that her own name suffered from association with that of Sir Fulke. He was bent on display and notoriety, and permitted nothing to interfere with his indulgence of it. She was hand in glove with all professional artists, and loved to imagine herself one of them. She threw open the doors of Hatleigh House to them freely; and whilst they laughed at her pretensions, they were not slow to avail themselves of her hospi tality. But to hear her talk of her marital relations with Lord Henry Masham was so fnnny that Marian Lacy could hardly keep her countenance as she replied, — " I think Georgie's eyes are as open as those of any one.

But she is not quite a perfect temper herself, you know, Lady Henry. She looks sweet enough upon the stage, but she is by no means an easy person to get on with in private life. I fancy there are two sides to the story. But here she comes, and I shall have to leave you. You will not mention to her what 1 have said, I hope. In all matrimonial squabbles, I prefer to maintain a neutral position." " Quite so, my dear Miss Lacy. I perfectly under stand you," replied Lady Henry, as the door opened to admit Georgie Harrington. She was looking charming, in a pale blue satin tea-gown, trimmed with coffee lace, and her pale face, and hair in graceful confusion, only added to the interest of her appearance. Lady Henry received her with enthusiasm ; and Marian Lacy having made her adieux, the two com menced to talk of the Hatleigh House theatricals, and what artists were to be secured to assist in the pro duction of a drama of Lady Henry Masham's own composition.

Miss Harrington had named several who were likely to be at liberty, when her guest interrupted her, — " But you will take the principal part yourself, will you not, my dear Miss Harrington ? I could not fancy my ' Lady Ella ' in any hands but yours." " How can I, Lady Henry, when I have my own work to do ? " " The ' Delphian ' will be closed by that time. We don't play till September." " I shall probably be in the provinces in September. I have been offered an engagement with the ' Valley of Joy ' Company." " But you won't accept it surely ? You will never leave London ? " " I don't see what there is to keep me particularly in London, Lady Henry ! " said Georgie, with a sigh. " Why, everything. Your house, your charming husband, and your friends. No lady in the profession has the entree to better houses than yourself.

Ah ! I believe I can guess the reason, Miss Harrington. Some mischievous little bird has been whispering tales out of school to you. Now, my dear child, take my advice. Don't believe them. If I had believed all the stories I've heard against Lord Henry since our marriage, I should have taken prussic acid long ago." " Indeed you are mistaken," murmured Georgie. " No, I'm not. I've heard all about it, though, of course, I always say it is not true. But they're all alike, my dear girl. There isn't a pin to choose between them. They'll do anything, so long as they're not found out. And if you marry a charming fellow like Captain Legh, you are bound to take the con sequences. But he is not a bit worse than any other husband." " But perhaps," said Georgie proudly, " I require something better than any other husband."

" Well ! you won't get it, my dear. There are none made. Every one likes Captain Legh. He's so pleasant and gentlemanly — such a thorough man of society. It's no wonder he gets flattered and spoilt. But it would be worse if he were such a nonentity that no one took any notice of him. Come now, my dear Miss Harrington, I must have you cheer up and look at the bright side of things." " Shall we finish our arrangements for the Hatleigh theatricals ? " said Georgie gravely. She could not bear to discuss so serious a subject with a comparative stranger. She loved her husband so dearly that to speak of his failings was like driving a knife into her heart, and she shivered under the infliction. Lady Henry saw that she wished to turn the subject, and she took her cue from her. For the rest of her visit the conversation was solely of scenery, dresses, musicians, and all the paraphernalia necessary to a dramatic spectacle.

Georgie recommended her old friend Mr. Brabazon Chauncey as stage-manager, and an efficient person to provide artists at a reason able price, and sat down then and there to write a note of introduction to him for Lady Henry. She felt thoroughly tired when her visitor left her, but she also felt somewhat cheered. To find that Lady Henry took such a different view of Gerard's conduct from what Marian Lacy had done made her ask herself if she had not been too harsh in her judgment of him. Was his behaviour, after all, only such of every man in society ? and was it her ignorance of high life that made her blame him unnecessarily, and caused the differences between them ? Georgie Harrington was a very proud woman, but she was also a very tender-hearted one. Her pride was her besetting sin. She had been both envied and sneered at for making a marriage above her position as an actress, and that the envious and malicious should have the power to smile at her failure to retain her husband's respect and attention galled her above everything.

In her present softened mood she saw things in a different light. Perhaps, after all, she had not made sufficient allowance for his aristocratic breeding and mode of bringing up. He had not been used to the society she had. It was no wonder if he looked down upon her friends, and treated them with more familiarity than was desirable. The women made a fool of him too. Of that she had been long aware, and she was too much occupied with her pro fession to go about with him as much as a wife should do. It would be hard if Gerard had to stand aloof from society because she could not enter it. In half an hour after Lady Henry's departure Georgie Harrington had almost argued herself into the belief that she was as much in the wrong as Captain Legh, and had determined to tell him so when next they met, and see if it were not possible to commence their married life over again.

Usually she dined at four o'clock with her little sister Bertha (who had been known from her birth by the name of " Sissie ") to accommodate the exigencies of her profession, and her husband took his dinner at his club. To-day she would not have entered the dining-room at all if it had not been for Sissie, who sprang to meet her directly she appeared. " Oh, Georgie ! I thought you were never coming ! How long Lady Henry stayed ! I made Nelson ring the bell three times, to tell you dinner was ready." " Are you so hungry then, my darling ? When did Mademoiselle Sartouche leave ? " " Nearly an hour ago. She took me such a long walk in the park, I thought I should have fainted. I believe she has cast-iron legs." " You won't faint so easily, my little Sissie," said Georgie, with a sigh ; " bat I mustn't have you over tired.