Page 611 - for-the-term-of-his-natural-life

sent back into the world an accomplished gentleman, to
work out his vengeance, is superb.’
‘No, now—you are telling me,’ laughed she; and then,
with feminine perversity, ‘Go on, what is the story?’
‘Only that of an unjustly imprisoned man, who, escaping
by a marvel, and becoming rich—as Dr. Johnson says, ‘be-
yond the dreams of avarice’— devotes his life and fortune
to revenge himself.’
‘And does he?’
‘He does, upon all his enemies save one.’
‘And he—?’ ‘She—was the wife of his greatest enemy, and
Dantès spared her because he loved her.’
Sylvia turned away her head. ‘It seems interesting
enough,’ said she, coldly.
There was an awkward silence for a moment, which each
seemed afraid to break. North bit his lips, as though regret-
ting what he had said. Mrs. Frere beat her foot on the floor,
and at length, raising her eyes, and meeting those of the
clergyman fixed upon her face, rose hurriedly, and went to
meet her returning husband.
‘Come to dinner, of course!’ said Frere, who, though he
disliked the clergyman, yet was glad of anybody who would
help him to pass a cheerful evening.
‘I came to bring Mrs. Frere a book.’
‘Ah! She reads too many books; she’s always reading
books. It is not a good thing to be always poring over print,
is it, North? You have some influence with her; tell her so.
Come, I am hungry.’
He spoke with that affectation of jollity with which hus-

10 For the Term of His Natural Life