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CHAPTER XLI
AFTER a defiance so bitter and deadly, Alfred naturally drew away from
his inamorata. But she, boiling with love and hate, said bitterly, "We
need not take Mr. Rooke into our secrets. Come, sir, your arm!"
He stuck it out ungraciously, and averted his head; she took it,
suppressed with difficulty a petty desire to pinch, and so walked by his
side. He was as much at his ease as if promenading jungles with a
panther. She felt him quiver with repugnance under her soft hand; and
prolonged the irritating contact. She walked very slowly, and told him
with much meaning she was waiting for a signal. "Till then," said she,
"we will keep one another company;" biting the word with her teeth as it
went out.
By-and-by a window was opened in the asylum, and a table-cloth hung out.
Mrs. Archbold pointed it out to Alfred; he stared at it; and after that
she walked him rapidly home in silence. But, as soon as the door was
double-locked on him, she whispered triumphantly in his ear--
"Your mother-in-law was expected to-day; that signal was to let me know
she was gone.


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