The whole thing had now become so horrible to her that she felt unable any longer to hold up her head.It seemed to her to be sacrilege that these women should come and sit in her father's room, but when she spoke of her father her husband had cursed him with scorn! Lopez was going to send food and wine into the house, which would be gall and wormwood to her father.At one time she thought she would at once write to her father and tell him of it all,--or perhaps telegraph to him; but she could not do so without letting her husband know what she had done, and then he would have justice on his side in calling her disobedient.Were she to do that, then it would indeed be necessary that she should take part against her husband.
She had brought all this misery on herself and on her father because she had been obstinate in thinking she could with certainty read a lover's character.As for love,--that of course had died away in her heart,--imperceptibly, though, alas, so quickly! It was impossible that she could continue to love a man who from day to day was teaching her mean lessons, and who was ever doing mean things, the meanness of which was so little apparent to himself that he did not scruple to divulge them to her.How could she love a man who would make no sacrifice either to her comfort or her pride, or her conscience? But still she might obey him,--if she could feel sure that obedience to him was a duty.Could it be a duty to sin against her father's wishes, and to assist in profaning his house and abusing his hospitality after this fashion? Then her mind again went back to the troubles of Mrs Parker, and her absolute inefficiency in that matter.It seemed to her that she had given herself over body and soul and mind to some evil genius, and that there was no escape.
'Of course we'll come,' said Mrs Roby had said to her when she went round the corner into Berkeley Street early in the day.
'Lopez spoke to me about it before.'
'What will papa say about it, Aunt Harriet?'
'I suppose he and Lopez understand each other.'
'I do not think papa will understand this.'
'I am sure Mr Wharton would not lend his house to his son-in-law and then object to the man he had lent it to asking a friend to dine with him.And I am sure that Mr Lopez would not consent to occupy a house on those terms.If you don't like it, of course we won't come.'
'Pray do not say that.As these other women are to come, pray do not desert me.But I cannot say I think it is right.' Mrs ****, however, only laughed at her scruples.
In the course of the evening Emily got letters addressed to herself, from Lady Eustace and Mrs Leslie, informing her that they would have very much pleasure in dining with her on the day named.And Lady Eustace went on to say, with much pleasantry, that she always regarded little parties, got up without any ceremony, as being the pleasantest, and that she should come on this occasion without any ceremonial observance.Then Emily was aware that her husband had not only written the notes in her name, but had put into her mouth some studied apology as to the shortness of the invitation.Well! She was the man's wife, and she supposed that he was entitled to put any words that he please into her mouth.
