Page 638 - for-the-term-of-his-natural-life

CHAPTER X. A MEETING.

ohn Rex found the ‘George’ disagreeably prepared for his
Jaugust arrival. Obsequious waiters took his dressing-bag
and overcoat, the landlord himself welcomed him at the
door. Two naval gentlemen came out of the coffee-room
to stare at him. ‘Have you any more luggage, Mr. Devine?’
asked the landlord, as he flung open the door of the best
drawing-room. It was awkwardly evident that his wife had
no notion of suffering him to hide his borrowed light under
a bushel.
A supper-table laid for two people gleamed bright from
the cheeriest corner. A fire crackled beneath the marble
mantelshelf. The latest evening paper lay upon a chair; and,
brushing it carelessly with her costly dress, the woman he
had so basely deserted came smiling to meet him.
‘Well, Mr. Richard Devine,’ said she, ‘you did not expect
to see me again, did you?’
Although, on his journey down, he had composed an
elaborate speech wherewith to greet her, this unnatural ci-
vility dumbfounded him. ‘Sarah! I never meant to—‘
‘Hush, my dear Richard—it must be Richard now, I sup-
pose. This is not the time for explanations. Besides, the
waiter might hear you. Let us have some supper; you must
be hungry, I am sure.’ He advanced to the table mechani-
cally. ‘But how fat you are!’ she continued. ‘Too good living,