"Mr Cradell, your hand," said Lupex, who had advanced as far as the second glass of brandy-and-water, but had not been allowed to go beyond it. "There has been a misunderstanding between us; let it be forgotten."
"Mr Cradell, if I know him," said the lady, "is too much the gentleman to bear any anger when a gentleman has offered him his hand."
"Oh, I'm sure," said Cradell, "I'm quite—indeed, I'm delighted to find there's nothing wrong after all." And then he shook hands with both of them; whereupon Miss Spruce got up, curtseyed low, and also shook hands with the husband and wife.
"You're not a married man, Mr Cradell," said Lupex, "and therefore you cannot understand the workings of a husband's heart. There have been moments when my regard for that woman has been too much for me."
"Now, Lupex, don't," said she, playfully tapping him with an old parasol which she still held.
"And I do not hesitate to say that my regard for her was too much for me on that night when I sent for you to the dining-room."
"I'm glad it's all put right now," said Cradell.
"Very glad, indeed," said Miss Spruce.
"And, therefore, we need not say any more about it," said Mrs Lupex.
"One word," said Lupex, waving his hand. "Mr Cradell, I greatly rejoice that you did not obey my summons on that night. Had you done so,—I confess it now,—had you done so, blood would have been the consequence. I was mistaken. I acknowledge my mistake;—but blood would have been the consequence."
"Dear, dear, dear," said Miss Spruce.
"Miss Spruce," continued Lupex, "there are moments when the heart becomes too strong for a man."
"I dare say," said Miss Spruce.
"Now, Lupex, that will do," said his wife.
"Yes; that will do. But I think it right to tell Mr Cradell that I am glad he did not come to me. Your friend, Mr Cradell, did me the honour of calling on me at the theatre yesterday, at half-past four; but I was in the slings then and could not very well come down to him. I shall be happy to see you both any day at five, and to bury all unkindness with a chop and glass at the Pot and Poker, in Bow Street."
"I'm sure you're very kind," said Cradell.
"And Mrs Lupex will join us. There's a delightful little snuggery upstairs at the Pot and Poker; and if Miss Spruce will condescend to—"
"Oh, I'm an old woman, sir."
"No—no—no," said Lupex, "I deny that. Come, Cradell, what do you say?—just a snug little dinner for four, you know."
It was, no doubt, pleasant to see Mr Lupex in his present mood,—much pleasanter than in that other mood of which blood would have been the consequence: but pleasant as he now was, it was, nevertheless, apparent that he was not quite sober. Cradell, therefore, did not settle the day for the little dinner; but merely remarked that he should be very happy at some future day.
"And now, Lupex, suppose you get off to bed," said his wife. "You've had a very trying day, you know."
"And you, ducky?"
"I shall come presently. Now don't be making a fool of yourself, but get yourself off. Come—" and she stood close up against the open door, waiting for him to pass.
"I rather think I shall remain where I am, and have a glass of something hot," said he.
"Lupex, do you want to aggravate me again?" said the lady, and she looked at him with a glance of her eye which he thoroughly understood. He was not in a humour for fighting, nor was he at present desirous of blood; so he resolved to go. But as he went he prepared himself for new battles. "I shall do something desperate, I am sure; I know I shall," he said, as he pulled off his boots.
"Oh, Mr Cradell," said Mrs Lupex as soon as she had closed the door behind her retreating husband, "how am I ever to look you in the face again after the events of these last memorable days?" And then she seated herself on the sofa, and hid her face in a cambric handkerchief.
"As for that," said Cradell, "what does it signify,—among friends like us, you know?"
"But that it should be known at your office,—as of course it is, because of the gentleman that went down to him at the theatre,—I don't think I shall ever survive it."
"You see I was obliged to send somebody, Mrs Lupex."
"I'm not finding fault, Mr Cradell. I know very well that in my melancholy position I have no right to find fault, and I don't pretend to understand gentlemen's feelings towards each other. But to have had my name mentioned up with yours in that way is— Oh! Mr Cradell, I don't know how I'm ever to look you in the face again." And again she buried hers in her pocket-handkerchief.
"Handsome is as handsome does," said Miss Spruce; and there was that in her tone of voice which seemed to convey much hidden meaning.
"Exactly so, Miss Spruce," said Mrs Lupex; "and that's my only comfort at the present moment. Mr Cradell is a gentleman who would scorn to take advantage;—I'm quite sure of that." And then she did contrive to look at him over the edge of the hand which held the handkerchief.
"That I wouldn't, I'm sure," said Cradell. "That is to say—" And then he paused. He did not wish to get into a scrape about Mrs Lupex. He was by no means anxious to encounter her husband in one of his fits of jealousy. But he did like the idea of being talked of as the admirer of a married woman, and he did like the brightness of the lady's eyes. When the unfortunate moth in his semi-blindness whisks himself and his wings within the flame of the candle, and finds himself mutilated and tortured, he even then will not take the lesson, but returns again and again till he is destroyed. Such a moth was poor Cradell. There was no warmth to be got by him from that flame. There was no beauty in the light,—not even the false brilliance of unhallowed love. Injury might come to him,—a pernicious clipping of the wings, which might destroy all power of future flight; injury, and not improbably destruction, if he should persevere. But one may say that no single hour of happiness could accrue to him from his intimacy with Mrs Lupex. He felt for her no love. He was afraid of her, and, in many respects, disliked her. But to him, in his moth-like weakness, ignorance, and blindness, it seemed to be a great thing that he should be allowed to fly near the candle. Oh! my friends, if you will but think of it, how many of you have been moths, and are now going about ungracefully with wings more or less burnt off, and with bodies sadly scorched!
But before Mr Cradell could make up his mind whether or no he would take advantage of the present opportunity for another dip into the flame of the candle,—in regard to which proceeding, however, he could not but feel that the presence of Miss Spruce was objectionable,—the door of the room was opened, and Amelia Roper joined the party.
"Oh, indeed; Mrs Lupex," she said. "And Mr Cradell!"
"And Miss Spruce, my dear," said Mrs Lupex, pointing to the ancient lady.
"I'm only an old woman," said Miss Spruce.
"Oh, yes; I see Miss Spruce," said Amelia. "I was not hinting anything, I can assure you."
"I should think not, my dear," said Mrs Lupex.
"Only I didn't know that you two were quite— That is, when last I heard about it, I fancied— But if the quarrel's made up, there's nobody more rejoiced than I am."
"The quarrel is made up," said Cradell.