L. T. Meade

“ Raymond,” she said; “he begs of me to call at the Hyde Park Gazette this morning—you know I used to write paragraphs for his paper.”
“So I have heard,” answered Gray; “but if he wants you to begin anything of the kind again, Diana, you must say 'no.' I am earning more than enough for us both, and I do not choose you to do journalistic work.”
“Why so?” she asked timidly. “The fact is I am particularly fond of writing.”
“You may write a novel if you like, but paragraph writing is beneath you, and I cannot countenance it.” ”

“ Raymond would give me a post on the Hyde Park Gazette; he half promised to once, but I daren't ask him favours now. Dear old Matthew—to think of a man like Hugh Raymond presuming to ask me to marry him—and yet he is rich and Matthew is not really-rich; he is just successful, and we shall get along very nicely, but I could not ask him to give me two hundred pounds and to ask me no questions why I wanted it, and I do not fancy I should greatly mind asking Hugh Raymond for that modest little sum if I happened to be his wife. Hugh has not a high ideal of women—but Matthew! ”

“ Matthew himself was intensely modern in his writing, and, as far as superficial observers could tell, in his opinions, but as regarded women—and in especial—married women, he was strictly conservative. Diana was to find that out by-and-by; she had little idea of it when she promised to be his wife. She was naturally a very affectionate, true-hearted girl, and the life which now opened before her seemed full of attractions. She made a beautiful bride, and on their honeymoon no couple could be happier than the Grays. ”

“ I won't let my dear Matthew pay these horrid bills for dresses and capes and gloves and bonnets which I wore out and hated before he proposed to me, for all the world. Yes, I must find some way of earning the money. What shall I do. In the whirl of my brief engagement I almost forgot those odious debts, but now something must be sent to Madame Lefroy. I will write her a little note and enclose—let me see, how much have I in my purse?” Diana opened her pretty little sealskin purse—it contained something over five pounds. ”

“ We can do proof reading when we are at home in the evenings—but, of course, we will also go out together, I have several friends I want you to get acquainted with.”
“Yes, dear,” she answered, moving rather restlessly as she spoke. “Oh! by the way, I found a letter from Esther Raymond waiting for me amongst others in my sweet little boudoir—she wants to know if I will open a debate at the Vanguard to-morrow evening—the subject is to be 'Brave Women and Fair Men'—it is just like Esther to take up that modern note. ”

“ STORY I.—MATTHEW GRAY'S WIFE. Chapter I. IT was the night of the weekly debate at the Vanguard Club for Women, when Matthew Gray determined to put his fortunes to the test. The subject of the debate this evening was “Woman,” and the opener was a man. When Matthew made his way into the crowded room the speaking had already begun. He was a young man of about twenty-six years of age, and had been a journalist from the time he was twenty. He had done well in journalism as he did in everything else he undertook, and six months ago had published his first novel. ”

“ Raymond; you have done a very dreadful thing, and, innocent or guilty, your case is a terrible one. We have reason to believe that there is not a word of truth in the scandal which has got abroad with regard to the reputation of a good and brave man. You have put that scandal into words, Mrs. Gray, and those words have been printed and are now circulated over the length and breadth of England. The name of the man is——”
“Yes,” said Diana, “yes. The name, quick,” she panted.
“The man's name is Matthew Gray.” ”

“ Gray, “my husband is coming for me.”
“Well, what of that? We shall be very pleased to see him also.”
“He is too busy, Esther; a cheap edition of 'The Shadow of the Duke' is coming out next week, and every moment of Matthew's time is occupied getting it through the press.”
“What it is to be famous!” said Esther; “I am sure I congratulate you; and certainly Mr. Gray is a very distinguished-looking man. I only hope he won't narrow your views, Diana; you must be very careful on that score.” ”

“ Raymond bent forward, lowered his voice and said something in a semi-whisper.
“Impossible!” said Diana, reddening and starting back.
“It is true; the man is a confounded hypocrite;. see the stand he takes; he is against all progress; he even quotes the highest sentiments. I know for a fact what I am telling you,” he lowered his voice again and whispered some further scandal. “Mrs. Gray,” he said suddenly, “we must show him up.”
“I hate hypocrites,” said Diana. ”

“ Yes, my love: a scandalous falsehood has been circulated about me—of course, it is the work of an enemy. I have just the ghost of a suspicion from what quarter it may arise, and intend to crush it in the bud. ”

“ The fact is, the Hyde Park Gazette likes to be a little bit scandalous, it rather builds its reputation on that; we like choice morsels and bits of out-of-the-way gossip—the woman's column has, in short, to get behind the scenes. I can afford to pay well for really valuable services. ”

“ You have not begun your article for this week yet?”
“No; I generally collect my material on the first two days of the week and write my article in hot haste on Wednesday—it seems to come better so.”
“Your papers are excellent,” said Raymond, “you are a born journalist—you have caught the swing of the thing. This week, however, your woman's article must treat on a new topic. Have you observed these leaders in the Morning Gazette?”
“Oh! yes,” said Diana, we take the Morning Gazette—do you mean the second leader—it seems to me to be always from the same pen.” ”

“ I am proud to tell you that I am now the affianced wife of Matthew Gray.”
“This is the second time that man has done me an injury,” muttered Raymond, speaking half under his breath, but Diana heard him.
Chapter II. A MONTH later Diana was married. There was no reason why her wedding should be delayed. Matthew could afford to take a nice little flat in the neighbourhood of Hyde Park. He could afford to furnish it daintily and to bring his bride to as pretty a set of rooms as any modern girl could desire. ”

“ The real truth, however, for the first day or two, was known to no one at the club.
Amongst Diana's friends was a certain Mrs. Musgrave—a very fine-natured woman, who supported herself and her three children by journalism—she read the article in the Hyde Park Gazette, but shook her head over it.
“I do not like it,” she said, addressing one or two of her friends. “Mrs. Gray is too fine a woman, and has too noble a husband herself, to stoop to this sort of thing—she ought not to do it, and I wonder Mr. ”