Volume II. The Wife CHAPTER 9.
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While the result of her contention with her husband was still doubtful, Mrs. Riston called upon none of her friends except Mrs. Leslie, who always encouraged her to do just what she wished to do, and whose advice was always such as to aid her in more effectually attaining her own ends. But, no sooner was it settled that she was to become the mistress of an elegant house, than she was on the wing. Among the first people on whom she called, was Mrs. Hartley. She could not restrain the desire she felt to let Anna know that she was herself to occupy the beautiful house she had been so foolish as to pass by.
"I have news to tell you, my dear," she said, with a brightening face, after she had been seated a few minutes.
"Ah? What is it?"
"You couldn't guess in a month!"
"Perhaps not. I never was very good at guessing."
"I am going to housekeeping!"
"What?"
"To housekeeping! Aren't you surprised?"
"I am truly. What in the world has caused you to change your views?"
"Circumstances. My husband set his mind so determinedly upon it, that nothing was left me but to consent. Would you believe it? — the man actually set about renting a house and furnishing it himself, declaring that he would hire someone to keep it for him and live there alone, if I did not choose to go with him! It's a fact! Did you ever hear of such a thing?"
Mrs. Hartley looked at her visitor in mute amazement.
"Well may you look surprised!" resumed Mrs. Riston. "But, if I did consent, in the end, after a hard struggle to give up my freedom — it was only after stipulations honorable enough to my pride and ambition. He fought hard, but I conquered by perseverance."
It was impossible for Anna to say a single word, in the pause that followed this sentence. Her heart was shocked. But, of the real impression her communication had made, Mrs. Riston had no idea.
"My husband fixed upon a house very much like the one you have," the lady continued, "only somewhat more genteel; but I told him NO at once: that if I was forced to go to housekeeping, I must at least have a word to say in regard to the style in which I was to live. He yielded a little, and then I pushed him hard, for I knew that nothing else would do. At first I insisted upon having a house in Arch Street at nine hundred dollars."
"Mrs. Riston!"
"Indeed I did. He looked dumbfounded. I urged, but he said no, with such a resolute air, and plead inability so very hard, that I abated a little. You remember the house in Walnut Street that you were so silly as to refuse when your husband wanted to rent it? Well, that house still remained vacant, and I settled down upon it, determined not to descend a single step lower. My good man fought hard, but it was no use. I was immoveable. At last he consented, and we have the keys! Aren't you sorry now that you did not secure it?"
"No," was the simple reply of Mrs. Hartley.
"You will be, then. Wait until I get it furnished. I'll dazzle your eyes for you. Mr. Riston has left all to my taste."
"Without regard to expense?"
"He tried to limit me to a certain sum, but I told him it was no use. We had no children, and, therefore, no particular reason for being over-economical. Other people could live in handsome style who were no better off — and we had just as good a right to all the elegancies of life as anybody else. He preached about his not being able to bear the heavy expense: but I wouldn't listen to him a moment. I have heard about that ever since we were married. He would go to housekeeping, and now he shall have enough of it. Oh, but I'll show you style!"
Anna looked grave.
"What is the matter, my dear? Not envious, I hope, in anticipation?"
"No, Heaven knows that I am not!" Anna said, with a serious face and as serious a tone.
"What is the matter, then, child?"
"I am grieved at heart to hear any one speak of her husband as you are speaking, Mrs. Riston. Depend upon it — you are wrong."
"Wrong for a woman to assert her rights and maintain them."
"A woman has no rights independent of her husband."
"You are crazy, child! Must she be his passive slave?"
"No — nor should she attempt to play the tyrant over him."
"You do not mean to say that I attempt to play the tyrant over my husband?"
"Look closely into your own conduct, and answer that question for yourself, Mrs. Riston."
"I am not used to being spoken to in this way, madam!" An angry flush mounted to the brow of the visitor as she spoke, and a slight movement of the body showed that she was about to rise from her chair.
"Think, Mrs. Riston," replied Anna, "whether it would not be of use to you to know exactly what impression your words and conduct sometimes make upon the minds of unselfish friends."
"Ah! Well! Perhaps it would. Please let me have the benefits of your impressions." This was said in a quick, sneering voice.
"Not while you feel as you do now," Anna calmly said. "I have no unkindness in my heart towards you. I hope you will cherish none towards me. But I cannot help being affected, as I am, by your language. It gives me the most exquisite pain."
The manner in which this was said, caused the angry feelings of Mrs. Riston to subside.
"You are a strange woman, Mrs. Hartley."
"I strive always to do right."
"So do I; that is, to have everything my own way — which I think the right way."
"Acting in that spirit, you will rarely be in the right," Anna firmly said.
"Don't you think I am right in opposing my husband's stinginess?"
"You should first be very sure that what you call stinginess is not a just degree of prudence. What do you know of his affairs?"
"Nothing at all, except that he is very well off. As to the exact amount of his property, or how much he makes in a year, I don't concern myself. Of one thing I am very certain — my extravagance will never ruin him."
"I hope not. But you should not disregard his complaints that you spend money too freely."
"But you can't judge of this, Anna. You don't know how constantly it has been rung in my ears ever since we were married."
"Perhaps this is your fault? Perhaps you have, from the first, been disposed to spend money more freely than you should."
"I differ with you; and I ought to know best." This was coldly spoken.
Anna felt that it would do no good to proceed, and the subject was dropped there. The visitor did not stay long. Mrs. Hartley had made her feel very uncomfortable.
"I must say that I think that Anna Hartley a very strange woman," remarked Mrs. Riston, some ten minutes after she left her, to her very particular friend, Mrs. Leslie.
"I always knew that."
"Don't you think she had the coolness to take me to task this morning, because I made my husband rent the house in Walnut Street, that she was fool enough to let slip through her fingers?"
"Humph! She has repented of that, no doubt, a hundred times already!"
"And is only mad because I had spirit enough to insist upon having it. But I'll be revenged on her! I'll show her what she has missed, at the house warming! I'll make her heart sick of her own two-pence, half-penny affair! But her time is past. The honey-moon is long since over, and she will find her loving spouse very clear of gratifying the desire that I will create in her bosom. The conceited girl — to think of reading me a lesson in marital duty. I'll bet anything that, before six months are past, she and her husband will have many a little tiff, if not something worse."
"She is a prude."
"And as cold-hearted as an icicle. I wonder any man could like her."
"She has a pretty face."
"I differ with you. It may be regular; but it has no life — no vivacity."
"We won't quarrel about that. Some have called her really beautiful. Gardiner once thought so."
"When he played the love-sick fool to one who was not worthy of him. But he has expressed himself very differently to me, since."
"Has he? Sour grapes, perhaps. Gardiner wanted her very badly, and so did William Archer. By the way, speaking of Archer, I believe public opinion is rather too hard with him."
"You know I have always thought so."
"Yes, I am aware of that. He was here yesterday, and is quite serious about renewing his addresses to Florence Armitage, and claiming the fulfillment of her promise to marry him!"
"Will it be of any use?"
"I think so. Florence is a weak girl, and may be easily induced to look upon him once more with favorable eyes."
"Why does he feel so anxious about pressing his suit in that quarter? There are dozens of girls to pick among, who are far more lovable than Florence."
"For reasons best known to himself, no doubt. He wants me to aid him again, and I shall do it. Florence has called in, occasionally, of late, to see me. When next we meet, I will sound her on the subject. He has written her a letter, to which no answer has yet been returned. It will be very easy to lead her on to speak of this, and then I will urge her to reply to it."
"You can persuade her, easily enough, to do this."
"Yes, I presume I can. When she has once answered his letter, no matter what she says, her feelings will be more or less interested in him, in spite of all she can do. After that, it will be plain sailing for our friend Archer."
"So I would think."
"Unless the influence of Anna Hartley is stronger than I think it is."
"Is she attached to Anna?"
"Very closely; and she can do almost anything with her. But love for a man is stronger than love for a woman, in a maiden's heart. Here lies William Archer's strong ground of hope.
"She will be his wife before six months passes, Mrs. Leslie."
"Or three — if I may be allowed to prophecy."
"Success to his suit, say I. He is just as good as she is. Indeed, she ought to be glad to get him; for his family is far more respectable than hers."
"That is true. Her father is nobody. Who ever heard of him until a few years ago? And as for her mother, it would be a hard task to trace her pedigree, and not very flattering to her descendants, when it was done. If it wasn't for her father's money, I don't think William would take much to heart her failure to comply with her marriage promise."
"No, I suppose not."
We cannot follow these heartless, dangerous women, any further in their conversation. Enough of their characters and designs are apparent to the reader.
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