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Page 26
Philippa, momentarily uneasy, was nevertheless rebellious.
"Accept you the same way? How can I! There is nothing in my life
to compare in any way with the tragedy of your--"
She paused, as though unwilling to finish the sentence. He waited
patiently, however, for her to proceed.
"Of my what?"
Philippa compromised.
"Lethargy," she pronounced triumphantly.
"An excellent word," he murmured.
"It is too mild a one, but you are my husband," she remarked.
"That reminds me," he said quietly. "You are my wife."
"I know it," she admitted, "but I am also a woman, and there are
limits to my endurance. If you can give me no explanation of your
behaviour, Henry, if you really have no intention of changing it,
then there is only one course left open for me."
"That sounds rather alarming--what is it?" he demanded.
Philippa lifted her head a little. This was the pronouncement
towards which she had been leading.
"From to-day," she declared, "I cease to be your wife."
His fingers paused in the manipulation of the tobacco with which he
was filling his pipe. He turned and looked at her.
"You what?"
"I cease to be your wife."
"How do you manage that?" he asked.
"Don't jest," she begged. "It hurts me so. What I mean is surely
plain enough. I will continue to live under your roof if you wish
it, or I am perfectly willing to go back to Wood Norton. I will
continue to bear your name because I must, but the other ties
between us are finished."
"You don't mean this, Philippa," he said gravely.
"But I do mean it," she insisted. "I mean every word I have spoken.
So far as I am concerned, Henry, this is your last chance."
There was a knock at the door. Mills entered with a note upon a
salver. Sir Henry took it up, glanced questioningly at his wife,
and tore open the envelope.
"There will be no answer, Mills," he said.
The man withdrew. Sir Henry read the few lines thoughtfully:--
Police-station, Dreymarsh
SIR,
According to enquiries made I find that Mr. Hamar Lessingham
arrived at the Hotel this evening in time for dinner. His
luggage arrived by rail yesterday. It is presumed that he came
by motor-car, but there is no car in the garage, nor any mention
of one. His room was taken for him by Miss Fairclough, ringing
up for Lady Cranston about seven o'clock.
Respectfully yours,
JOHN HAYLOCK.
"Is your note of interest?" Philippa enquired.
"In a sense, yes," he replied, thrusting it into his waistcoat
pocket. "I presume we can consider our late subject of conversation
finished with?"
"I have nothing more to say," she pronounced.
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