The Black Moth

"It certainly is slightly disturbing. You had better have chosen John,in spite of all, it seems."

She stamped angrily.

"Oh, where's the good in being flippant?"

"My dear Lavinia, where's the good in being anything else? The situationstrikes me as rather amusing. To think of the worthy Richard so neatlyoverturning all my plans!"

"If it had not been for you, I might never have married him. Why did youthrow them both in my way? Why did I ever set eyes on either?"

"It should have been a good match, my dear, and, if I remember rightly,no one was more alive to that fact than yourself."

She pouted angrily and turned her shoulder to him.

"Still," he continued reflectively, "I admit that for the smart lot weare, we do seem rather to have bungled the affair."

Lavinia swept round upon him.

"Oh, do you care no more than that? How can you be so casual! Does itaffect you not at all?"

He wrinkled his thin nose expressively.

"I shall not weep over it, Lavinia, b

ut 'tis a plaguey nuisance. But wemust see what can be done. And that brings me back to the originalsubject. Despite these upsetting revelations, I still require thatmoney."

"Oh, dear! How much must you have, Tracy?"

"Five hundred might suffice."

"Tracy, do not the estates bring in anything?" she asked petulantly."And Andrew told us you had a run of marvellous luck not a fortnightsince?"

"Since then, my dear, I have had three runs of marvellous ill-luck. Asto the estates, they are mortgaged up to the hilt, as you very wellknow. What little there is is between three. And Robert is extravagant."

"I hate Robert!"

"I am not partial to him myself, but it makes no odds."

"I wish he might die!--oh no, no! Now I am become ill-natured again--Idon't wish it--only I am so tired of everything. You shall have thatmoney as soon as possible; but be careful, Tracy--please be careful!'Tis not easy to get money from Dick!"

"No, I should imagine not. However, we have managed rather well up tothe present, take it all in all."

"Up to the present he has had all the money he wanted. My lord deniedhim nought!"

"Well, 'tis unfortunate, as I said before, but it must be endured. Whereis Dick?"

"I know not. You will stay to dinner, Tracy?"

"Thank you. I shall be charmed."

"Yes, yes--oh, how prodigiously pleasant it is to see you again! Soon Ishall come to Andover. Will you let me stay a few days?"

"The question is, will Richard allow you to stay so long in mycontaminating presence?"

"Richard would never keep me away, Tracy!" she replied proudly. "He_could_ not. Oh, why is it that I don't love him more? Why do I not carefor him as much as I care for you even?"

"My dear Lavinia, like all Belmanoirs, you care first for yourself andsecondly for the man who masters you. That, alas! Richard has not yetsucceeded in doing."

"But I _do_ love Richard. I do, I do, yet--"