Stella Fregelius: A Tale of Three Destinies

  It was on Christmas Eve, at night, the anniversary of Stella's deathfour years before. Morris and his wife were alone at the Abbey, as theColonel had gone for a fortnight or so to Beaulieu, just to keep thehouse aired, as he explained. Also Lady Rawlins was there with herhusband, the evil-tempered man who by a single stroke of sickness hadbeen converted into a babbling imbecile, harmless as a babe, and amusedfor the most part with such toys as are given to babes. She, so Morrisunderstood, had intimated that Sir Jonah was failing, really failingquickly, and that in her friendlessness at a foreign place, especiallyat Christmas time, she would be thankful to have the comfort of an oldfriend's presence. This the old friend, who, having been back from townfor a whole month, was getting rather bored with Monksland and thesick baby, determined to vouchsafe, explaining that he knew that youngmarried people liked to be left to each other now and again, especiallywhen they were worried with domestic troubles. Lady Rawlins was foolishand fat, but, as the Colonel remembered, she was fond. Where, indeed,could another woman be found who would endure so much scientificdiscipline and yet be thankful? Also, within a few weeks, after theexpected demise of Jonah, she would be wondrous wealthy--that he knew.Therefore it seemed that the matter was worth consideration--and ajourney to Beaulieu.

  So the Colonel went, and Morris, more and more possessed by hismonomania, was glad that he had gone. His absence gave him greateropportunities of loneliness; it was now no longer necessary that heshould sit at night smoking with his father, or, rather, watching himsmoke at the expense of so many precious hours when he should be up anddoing.

  Morris and Mary dined tete-a-tete that evening, but almost immediatelyafter dinner she had gone to the nurseries. The baby was now threatenedwith convulsions, and a trained nurse had been installed. But, as Marydid not in the least trust the nurse, who, according to her account,was quite unaccustomed to children, she insisted upon dogging thatfunctionary's footsteps. Therefore, Morris saw little of her.