Morley Roberts

“ And over and above Lady Hale, there was Felicia, who watched Anne closely.
“Confound Felicia!” said Hector crossly. “If I were a vain man I should think she had her eye on me. A pretty thing that would be with good old Tom sweet on her. I don't believe she knows her own mind.”
His psychological instincts were sound enough. The only thing that Felicia really knew was that she hated Lady Anne. The girl was naturally of a very jealous disposition. When Courtney was closeted with Anne she hated Anne and loved the doctor. ”

“ Lady Anne was back in London for the winter, and so was he. If it were true, after all, that she loved him, he could endure Lady Hale and Felicia for a time.
By half-past ten Lady Hale insisted on Anne's going to bed.
“There's a fire in your room and a hot-water bottle in your bed, my dear,” she exclaimed, “and if you don't go and are not quite well to-morrow, imagine the scene I shall have with the dear doctor in the morning. The man is an atrocious despot, as most doctors are. However, we are all very fond of him, are we not? ”

“ So ancient she felt that dark hour; for all the loving hearts of women are coeval with the birth of ancient love. A little more, and she could have run to him and fallen at his feet and twined her arms about his neck and have called him her child and her king; her king of men. And the strong dead looked on triumphantly. ”

“ Felicia trembled, and Anne saw that she did.
“If you had known that your letters were in the cabinet and you had had the key, would you have taken them, Felicia?” she asked.
The girl did not answer.
“Would you, would you?”
“I—I suppose so,” said Felicia.
“Then was I so wrong? The key was sent to me. Was I very wrong?”
She spoke quietly, but with passion.
“I don't know,” said Felicia.
“If I hadn't dared Hector would have had your letters to-morrow, Felicia. He and Doctor Courtney are old, old friends. Men are very loyal to each other, especially against us poor women. ”

“ As she unclosed the door she looked at the great portrait. The man did not mind, but she trembled. This was the house of his secret soul that even she had never known.
The first thing she touched before she saw any packets was a sheet of paper, put so that the first that opened the cabinet should see it. It was in the strong script of him who had been her lover, written in the days of his strength. It said:
These papers are to be burnt unopened by Hector Durant, whom I trust utterly, or, in case of his death, by the other executor whom I shall appoint. ”

“ He won't marry me unless he loves me. You think, because you hate me, that you can harm me. If there's harm to be done do you think I'll wait for you to do it, you poor, wretched girl? No, no, I'll go to him myself this very instant. Shall I, shall 1?”
“No, no,” said Felicia, panting, “no!”
“I'll go to Lady Hale, too. Oh, I will do even that!” said Anne.
She stared at Felicia hard, but the girl could not return her look. She stared past her at the desk where the letters lay. Suddenly she flushed dark crimson and sprang at Anne, and, half-thrusting her aside, grasped at the packets. ”

“ After all, Anne was no weakling. She had lived and suffered, had seen the world, and knew it as a woman may. She judged most rightly that at the back of this deceit and this violence lay real weakness. Suddenly she passed Felicia, put both packets of letters on the desk, and faced the girl again. ”