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What she did make of it is unimportant, except in its effect upon Gladys. This effect was very different from that produced a few minutes before by the song; this, at least, was no mere titillation of the senses by agreeable sounds. And it differed quite as much from the effect produced by the same thing in church on Sunday, when Gladys, after being surprised into listening, had listened only to the words. Then, indeed, the music had seemed sweet and sad, but to-night each note palpitated with a shivering, tremulous yearning, dropping into her soul a relief as deep as that of sorrow unbosomed, a comfort as soothing as the comfort of tears. And there was now an added infinity of meaning in the words; though it was the words that had thrilled her then then, before she had brought all the present misery to pass.
But Gladys had stepped softly through the window on to the lawn, re-entered the house by another way, and stolen swiftly up to her room. The last strains came to her through the open window of the drawing-room, and in at her own window, at which Gladys now knelt: and this short passage through the outer air brought them upward on the breath of the night, rarefied and softened as though from the lips of far-off angels: and so they reached her trembling ears.
The scent of roses was in the air. The moon was rising, and its rays spanned the river with a broad bridge of silver, against which some of the foliage at the garden-end stood out in fine filigree. It was a heavenly night; it was a sweet and tranquil place; but yet
There was no light in the room; and the girl remained so entirely motionless, as she knelt, that her glossy head, just raised above the level of the sill, would have seemed in the moonlight a mere inanimate accessory, if it had been seen at all. But only the bats could have seen Gladys, and they did not; at all events, it was the touch of a bats wing upon the forehead that recalled her to herself, making her aware of voices within
earshot, immediately below her window. Her room was over the dining-room. The voices were mens voices, and the scent of cigars reached her as well. She could hear distinctly, but she never would have listened had she not heard her own name spoken; and then the weakness of the moment prevented her from rising.
No, said one of the voices, not a bit of it; oh dear, no! Gladys has her good points; and, frankly, I am getting rather to like her. But she is impossible in her position. The whole thing was a fearful mistake, which poor old Alfred will live to repent.
The voice was unmistakable; it was Granvilles.
But and the other voice was that of Granvilles most intimate friend, whom he had introduced to Gladys during the course of the afternoon doesnt he repent it already, think you?
Upon my word, Im not sure that he doesnt, said Granville.
If you ask me, said his friend, I should say there isnt a doubt of it. Ive been watching him pretty closely. Mark my words, hes a miserable man!
Well, Im half inclined to agree with you, said Granville. I didnt think so two or three days since, but now I do. You see, there are camels backs and there are last straws (though I wish there were no proverbs); and there never was a heavier straw than yesterdays gad! twas as heavy as the rest of the load! I mean the perfectly awful scene in the Park, which you know about, and the whole town knows about, and the low papers will publish, confound them! Yes, I believe youre right; he cant get over this.
Poor chap! said Granvilles friend.
You may well say that. Alfred is no genius Granville was, apparently but he has position; he has money luckily for him; he means to settle down in the country somewhere, and, no doubt, hed like to be somebody in the county. But how could he? Look at his wife!
There ought to be a separation, said the friend, feelingly.
Well, I dont think its quite as bad as that, said Granville, wearing ship. Anyway, there never will be one; you may trust her for that. And, I must own, I dont think its all the main chance with her, either; theyre sufficiently spooney. Why, she will not even leave him for a week on a visit, though, as I understand, hes doing his best to persuade her to.
Gladyss hands tightened upon the woodwork of the window-frame.
Cant persuade her to? cried the friend. What did I tell you? Why, Lord love you, he wants to get rid of her already!
This was rather strong, even for an intimate friend, and even though the intimate friend had drunk a good deal of wine. Granvilles tone cooled suddenly.
Well drop the subject, I think. My cigars done, and youve smoked as much as is good for you. You can do as you like, but Im going inside.
Their footsteps sounded down the gravel-path; then the sound ceased; they had gone in by the drawing-room window.
Gladys had never once altered her position; she did not alter it now. The moon rose high in the purple sky, and touched her head with threads of silver. It was as though gray hairs had come upon her while she knelt. The sudden turning of the door-handle, and a quick step upon the threshold, aroused her. It was Alfred come for an easier coat. The people were gone.