The Black Moth

She brought her tiny mirror out from her pocket and surveyed herreflection critically, giving a tweak to one curl, and smoothing anotherback. She was afraid she was looking rather old this evening, and hopedthat Richard would not think so. She glanced up at the clock, wonderingwhere he was; surely he should be in by now? Then she arranged a chairinvitingly, pushed a stool up to it and sat down opposite. With a sigh,she reflected that it was an entirely new departure for her to strive toplease and captivate her husband, and she fell a-thinking of how he musthave waited on her in the old days, waiting as she was waitingnow--hoping for her arrival. Lady Lavinia was beginning to realise thatperhaps Dick's life had not been all roses with her as wife.

The door opened and Richard came into the room. Deep lines were betweenhis brows, but his mouth was for once set firmly. He looked sombrelydown at her, thinking how very beautiful she was.

Lady Lavinia smiled and nodded towards the chair she had prepared.

"Sit down, Dicky! I am so glad you have come! I was monstrous dull andlonely, I assure you!"

"Were you?" he said, fidgeting with her scissors. "No, I will not sitdown. I have something to say to you, Lavinia. Something to tell you."

"Oh, _have_ you?" she asked. "Something nice, Dicky?"

"I fear you will hardly think so. I am about to make an end."

"Oh--oh, are you? Of _what_?"

"Of this--this deceitful life I am leading--have been leading. I--I--Iam going to confess the whole truth."

"Rich-ard!"

He let fall the scissors and paced restlessly away down the room.

"I--I tell you, Lavinia, I cannot endure it! I cannot! I cannot! Thethought of what John may be bearing is driving me crazy! I must speak!"

"You--you can't!" she gasped. "After seven years! Dicky, for heaven'ssake--!" The colour ebbed and flowed in her cheeks.

"I cannot continue any longer this living of a lie--I have been feelingit more and more ever since--ever since I met--Jack--that time on theroad. And now I can no longer stand it. Everywhere I go I seem to seehim--looking at me--you don't understand--"

Lavinia cast aside her work.

"No! No! I do not! 'Pon rep., but you should have thought of thisbefore, Dick!"

"I know it. Nothing can ex

cuse my cowardice--my weakness. I know allthat, but it is not too late even now to make amends. In a week theywill all know the truth."

"What--what do you mean?"

"I have requested all whom it concerns to come to Wyncham the Fridayafter this."

"Good heavens! Dick, Dick, _think_!"

"I have thought. God! _how_ I have thought!"

"It is not fair to me! Oh, think of your honour--Wyncham!"

"My honour is less than nothing. 'Tis of his that I think."

She sprang up, clutching at his arm, shaking him.

"Richard, you are mad! You must not do this! You must not, I say!"

"I implore you, Lavinia, not to try to make me change my decision. It isof no use. Nothing you can say will make any difference."

She flew into a passion, flinging away from him, her good resolutionsforgotten.

"You have no right to disgrace me! If you do it, I will never forgiveyou! I won't stay with you--I--"

He broke in--this was what he had expected; he must not whine; this wasretribution.