DOI article:
D'Arcy, Ella: At Twickenham
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25498#0331
By Ella D’Arcy 327
Matters stood thus, when turning into Wetherly Gardens one
evening at the end of August, Corbett perceived, with a sudden
heart-sinking, Minnie awaiting him at the gate. He recited the
litany of all probable calamities, prayed for patience, and
prepared his soul to endure the worst.
“ What do you think, Jack,” Minnie began, with immense blue
eyes, and a voice that thrilled with intensity. “ The most
dreadful thing has happened-”
“Well, let me get in and sit down at least,” said Corbett,
dispiritedly. He was tired with the day’s work, weary at the
renewal of domestic worry. But the news which Minnie gave
him was stimulating in its unexpectedness.
“Jim Matheson’s been here to break off the engagement ! He
actually came to see Tish this afternoon and told her so himself.
Isn’t it monstrous ? Isn’t it disgraceful ? And the presents
come and everything. She’s in a dreadful state. She’s been
crying on the bed ever since.”
But Lcetitia, hearing her brother-in-law’s return, came down,
her fringe, ominous sign, out of curl, her eyes red, her face
disfigured from much weeping.
And when she began, brokenly, “ He’s thrown me over, Jack !
He’s jilted me, he’s told me so to my face! Oh, it’s too hard.
How shall I ever hold up my head again ? ” then, Corbett’s
sympathy went out to her completely. But he wanted particulars.
How had it come about ! There had been some quarrel, surely
some misunderstanding !
Loetitia declared there had been none. Why should she
quarrel with Jim when she had been so happy, and everything had
seemed so nice ? No, he was tired of her, that was all. He had
seen some one else perhaps, whom he fancied better, some one
with more money. She wept anew, and stamped her foot upon
the
Matters stood thus, when turning into Wetherly Gardens one
evening at the end of August, Corbett perceived, with a sudden
heart-sinking, Minnie awaiting him at the gate. He recited the
litany of all probable calamities, prayed for patience, and
prepared his soul to endure the worst.
“ What do you think, Jack,” Minnie began, with immense blue
eyes, and a voice that thrilled with intensity. “ The most
dreadful thing has happened-”
“Well, let me get in and sit down at least,” said Corbett,
dispiritedly. He was tired with the day’s work, weary at the
renewal of domestic worry. But the news which Minnie gave
him was stimulating in its unexpectedness.
“Jim Matheson’s been here to break off the engagement ! He
actually came to see Tish this afternoon and told her so himself.
Isn’t it monstrous ? Isn’t it disgraceful ? And the presents
come and everything. She’s in a dreadful state. She’s been
crying on the bed ever since.”
But Lcetitia, hearing her brother-in-law’s return, came down,
her fringe, ominous sign, out of curl, her eyes red, her face
disfigured from much weeping.
And when she began, brokenly, “ He’s thrown me over, Jack !
He’s jilted me, he’s told me so to my face! Oh, it’s too hard.
How shall I ever hold up my head again ? ” then, Corbett’s
sympathy went out to her completely. But he wanted particulars.
How had it come about ! There had been some quarrel, surely
some misunderstanding !
Loetitia declared there had been none. Why should she
quarrel with Jim when she had been so happy, and everything had
seemed so nice ? No, he was tired of her, that was all. He had
seen some one else perhaps, whom he fancied better, some one
with more money. She wept anew, and stamped her foot upon
the