Paulines Passion and Punishment | Page 8

Enjoy your midsummer night's dream while you may, Pauline, and be
ready for the awakening that must come."
"Not to her, madame, for our honeymoon shall last till the golden
wedding day comes round. Shall it not, cariña?"
"There is no sign of waning yet, Manuel," and Pauline looked up into
her husband's face with a genuine affection which made her own more
beautiful and filled his with a visible content. Gilbert read the glance,
and in that instant suffered the first pang of regret that Pauline had
foretold. He spoke abruptly, longing to be away.
"Babie, we may dance now, if you will."
"I am going, but not with you--so give me my fan, and entertain
Pauline till my return."
He unclosed his hand, but the delicately carved fan fell at his feet in a
shower of ivory shreds--he had crushed it as he watched his first love
with the bitter thought "It might have been!"
"Forgive me, Babie, it was too frail for use; you should choose a
stronger."
"I will next time, and a gentler hand to hold it. Now, Monsieur Laroche,
I am ready."
Mrs. Redmond rose in a small bustle of satisfaction, shook out her
flounces, glanced at the mirror, then Manuel led her away; and the
other pair were left alone. Both felt a secret agitation quicken their
breath and thrill along their nerves, but the woman concealed it best.

Gilbert's eye wandered restlessly to and fro, while Pauline fixed her
own on his as quietly as if he were the statue in the niche behind him.
For a moment he tried to seem unconscious of it, then essayed to meet
and conquer it, but failed signally and, driven to his last resources by
that steady gaze, resolved to speak out and have all over before his
wife's return. Assuming the seat beside her, he said, impetuously,
"Pauline, take off your mask as I do mine--we are alone now, and may
see each other as we are."
Leaning deep into the crimson curve of the couch, with the indolent
grace habitual to her, yet in strong contrast to the vigilant gleam of her
eye, she swept her hand across her face as if obeying him, yet no
change followed, as she said with a cold smile, "It is off; what next?"
"Let me understand you. Did my letter reach your hands?"
"A week before my marriage."
He drew a long breath of relief, yet a frown gathered as he asked, like
one loath and eager to be satisfied, "Your love died a natural death,
then, and its murder does not lie at my door?"
Pointing to the shattered toy upon the ground, she only echoed his own
words. "It was too frail for use--I chose a stronger."
It wounded, as she meant it should; and the evil spirit to whose
guidance she had yielded herself exulted to see his self-love bleed, and
pride vainly struggle to conceal the stab. He caught the expression in
her averted glance, bent suddenly a fixed and scrutinizing gaze upon
her, asking, below his breath, "Then why are you here to tempt me with
the face that tempted me a year ago?"
"I came to see the woman to whom you sold yourself. I have seen her,
and am satisfied."
Such quiet contempt iced her tones, such pitiless satisfaction shone
through the long lashes that swept slowly down, after her eye had met
and caused his own to fall again, that Gilbert's cheek burned as if the

words had been a blow, and mingled shame and anger trembled in his
voice.
"Ah, you are quick to read our secret, for you possess the key. Have
you no fear that I may read your own, and tell the world you sold your
beauty for a name and fortune? Your bargain is a better one than mine,
but I know you too well, though your fetters are diamonds and your
master a fond boy."
She had been prepared for this, and knew she had a shield in the real
regard she bore her husband, for though sisterly, it was sincere. She felt
its value now, for it gave her courage to confront the spirit of retaliation
she had roused, and calmness to answer the whispered taunt with an
unruffled mien, as lifting her white arm she let its single decoration
drop glittering to her lap.
"You see my 'fetters' are as loose as they are light, and nothing binds
me but my will. Read my heart, if you can. You will find there
contempt for a love so poor that it feared poverty; pity for a man who
dared not face the world and conquer it, as a girl had done before him,
and gratitude that I have found my 'master' in a