"
Patty held out her hand for the letter. She had no desire to remain
any longer. She wanted nothing but the privilege of being alone, that
she might weep the bitter, galling tears that were brimming her eyes.
... She had no recollection of gaining the street. It was true, it was
true! She did not even remember how she reached her room; but as her
blurred eyes saw the bed, she fell upon it in a stupor that for a long
while did not give any outlet to her tears.
In the meantime Haldene faced his wife.
"I am going down town presently," he said. "I shall send you up by
messenger several cabin-plans."
"Cabin-plans?" amazed at this odd turn in affairs.
"Yes. You will spend the winter either in Egypt or Italy, as it
pleases you."
"Europe? But my social obligations demand my presence here!" she
expostulated.
"You will cancel them. You will go to Europe. Anonymous letters!" He
struck the desk violently. It was the first touch of this kind he had
ever exhibited in her presence, and it terrified her. "When I married
you, people said I married your money. As God is above us, I loved
you.
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