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are。 You don't understand women； Ned。 That's what's the matter
with you。〃
It required all of Blandford's fond memories of his wife's
conservative habits； Puritan practicality； religious domesticity；
and strong family attachments； to withstand Demorest's dogmatic
convictions。 He smiled； however； with a certain complacency； as
he also recalled the previous autumn when the first news of the
California gold discovery had penetrated North Liberty； and he had
expressed to her his belief that it would offer an outlet to
Demorest's adventurous energy。 She had received it with ill…
disguised satisfaction； and the remark that if this exodus of
Mammon cleared the community of the godless and unregenerate it
would only be another proof of God's mysterious providence。
With the tumultuous wind at their backs it was not long before the
buggy rattled once more over the cobble…stones of the town。 Under
the direction of his friend； Demorest； who still retained possession
of the reins； drove briskly down a side street of more pretentious
dwellings； where Blandford lived。 One or two wayfarers looked up。
〃Not so fast； Dick。〃
〃Why？ I want to bring you up to your door in style。〃
〃Yesbutit's Sunday。 That's my house； the corner one。〃
They had stopped before a square； two…storied brick house； with an
equally square wooden porch supported by two plain； rigid wooden
columns； and a hollow sweep of dull concavity above the door；
evidently of the same architectural order as the church。 There was
no corner or projection to break the force of the wind that swept
its smooth glacial surface； there was no indication of light or
warmth behind its six closed windows。
〃There seems to be nobody at home；〃 said Demorest； briefly。 〃Come
along with me to the hotel。〃
〃Joan sits in the back parlor； Sundays；〃 explained the husband。
〃Shall I drive round to the barn and leave the horse and buggy
there while you go in？〃 continued Demorest； good…humoredly；
pointing to the stable gate at the side。
〃No； thank you；〃 returned Blandford； 〃it's locked； and I'll have to
open it from the other side after I go in。 The horse will stand
until then。 I think I'll have to say good…night； now；〃 he added；
with a sudden half…ashamed consciousness of the forbidding aspect
of the house； and his own inhospitality。 〃I'm sorry I can't ask
you inbut you understand why。〃
〃All right；〃 returned Demorest； stoutly； turning up his coat…
collar； and unfurling his umbrella。 〃The hotel is only four blocks
awayyou'll find me there to…morrow morning if you call。 But mind
you tell your wife just what I told youand no meandering of your
ownyou hear！ She'll strike out some idea with her woman's wits；
you bet。 Good…night； old man！ He reached out his hand； pressed
Blandford's strongly and potentially； and strode down the street。
Blandford hitched his steaming horse to a sleet…covered horse block
with a quick sigh of impatient sympathy over the animal and
himself； and after fumbling in his pocket for a latchkey； opened
the front door。 A vista of well…ordered obscurity with shadowy
trestle…like objects against the walls； and an odor of chill
decorum； as if of a damp but respectable funeral； greeted him on
entering。 A faint light； like a cold dawn； broke through the glass
pane of a door leading to the kitchen。 Blandford paused in the
mid…darkness and hesitated。 Should he first go to his wife in the
back parlor； or pass silently through the kitchen； open the back
gate； and mercifully bestow his sweating beast in the stable？ With
the reflection that an immediate conjugal greeting； while his horse
was still exposed to the fury of the blast in the street； would
necessarily be curtailed and limited； he compromised by quickly
passing through the kitchen into the stable yard； opening the gate；
and driving horse and vehicle under the shed to await later and
more thorough ministration。 As he entered the back door； a faint
hope that his wife might have heard him and would be waiting for
him in the hall for an instant thrilled him； but he remembered it
was Sunday； and that she was probably engaged in some devotional
reading or exercise。 He hesitatingly opened the back…parlor door
with a consciousness of committing some unreasonable trespass； and
entered。
She was there； sitting quietly before a large； round； shining
centre…table； whose sterile emptiness was relieved only by a shaded
lamp and a large black and gilt open volume。 A single picture on
the opposite wallthe portrait of an elderly gentleman stiffened
over a corresponding volume； which he held in invincible mortmain
in his rigid hand； and apparently defied posterity to take from
himseemed to offer a not uncongenial companionship。 Yet the
greenish light of the shade fell upon a young and pretty face；
despite the color it extracted from it； and the hand that supported
her low white forehead over which her full hair was simply parted；
like a brown curtain； was slim and gentle…womanly。 In spite of her
plain lustreless silk dress； in spite of the formal frame of sombre
heavy horsehair and mahogany furniture that seemed to set her off；
she diffused an atmosphere of cleanly grace and prim refinement
through the apartment。 The priestess of this ascetic temple； the
femininity of her closely covered arms； her pink ears； and a little
serviceable morocco house…shoe that was visible lower down； resting
on the carved lion's paw that upheld the centre…table； appeared to
be only the more accented。 And the precisely rounded but softly
heaving bosom； that was pressed upon the edges of the open book of
sermons before her； seemed to assert itself triumphantly over the
rigors of the volume。
At least so her husband and lover thought； as he moved tenderly
towards her。 She met his first kiss on her forehead； the second；
a supererogatory one； based on some supposed inefficiency in the
first； fell upon a shining band of her hair； beside her neck。 She
reached up her slim hands； caught his wrists firmly； and； slightly
putting him aside； said：
〃There； Edward？〃
〃I drove out from Warensboro； so as to get here to…night； as I have
to return to the city on Tuesday。 I thought it would give me a
little more time with you； Joan；〃 he said； looking around him； and；
at last； hesitatingly drawing an apparently reluctant chair from
its formal position at the window。 The remembrance that he had
ever dared to occupy the same chair with her； now seemed hardly
possible of credence。
〃If it was a question of your travelling on the Lord's Day； Edward；
I would rather you should have waited until to…morrow；〃 she said；
with slow precision。
〃ButII thought I'd get here in time for the meeting；〃 he said；
weakly。
〃And instead； you have driven through the town； I suppose； where
everybody will see you and talk about it。 But；〃 she added； raising
her dark eyes suddenly to his； 〃where else have you been？ The
train gets into Warensboro at six； and it's only half an hour's
drive from there。 What have you been doing； Edward？〃
It was scarcely a felicitous moment for the introduction of
Demorest's name； and he would have avoided it。 But he reflected
that he had been seen； and he was naturally truthful。 〃I met Dick
Demorest near the church； and as he had something to tell me； we
drove down the turnpike a little wayso as to be out of the town；
you know； Joanandand〃
He stopped。 Her face had taken upon itself that appalling and
exasperating calmness of very good people who never get angry； but
drive others to frenzy by the simple occlusion of an adamantine
veil between their own feelings and their opponents'。 〃I'll tell
you all about it after I've put up the horse；〃 he said hurriedly；
glad to escape until the veil was lifted again。 〃I suppose the
hired man is out。〃
〃I should hope he was in church； Edward； but I trust YOU won't
delay taking care of that poor dumb brute who has been obliged to
minister to your and Mr。 Demorest's Sabbath pleasures。〃
Blandford did not wait for a further suggestion。 When the door had
closed behind him； Mrs。 Blandford went to the mantel…shelf； where a
grimly allegorical clock cut down the hours and min