During this time, in spite of his threat, he continued to live with Mr Wharton in Manchester Square, and went every day into the city,--whether to make arrangements and receive instructions as to Guatemala, or to carry on his old business, neither Emily nor her father knew.He never at this time spoke about his affairs to either of them, but daily referred to her future expatriation as a thing that was certain.At last there came up the actual question,--whether she were to go or not.Her father told her that though she was doubtless bound by law to obey her husband, in such a matter as this she might defy the law.'I do not think that he can actually force you on board the ship,' her father said.
'But if he tells me I must go?'
'Stay with me,' said the father.'Stay here with your baby.
I'll fight it out for you.I'll so manage that you shall have all the world on your side.'
Emily at the moment came to no decision, but on the following day she discussed the matter with Lopez himself.'Of course you will go with me,' he said, when she asked the question.
'You mean that I must, whether I wish to go or not.'
'Certainly you must.Good G-! Where is a wife's place? Am I to go without my child, and without you, while you are enjoying all the comforts of your father's wealth at home? That is not my idea of life.'
'Ferdinand, I have been thinking about it very much.I must beg you to allow me to remain.I ask it of you as if I were asking my life.'
'Your father has put you up to this.'
'No;--not to this.'
'To what then.'
'My father thinks I should refuse to go.'
'He does, does he?'
'But I shall not refuse.I shall go if you insist upon it.
There shall be no contest between us about that.'
'Well, I should hope not.'
'But I do implore you to spare me.'
'That is very selfish, Emily.'
'Yes,'--she said, 'yes, I cannot contradict that.But so is the man selfish who prays the judge to spare his life.'
'But you do not think of me.I must go.'
'I shall not make you happier, Ferdinand.'
'Do you think that it is a fine thing for a man to live in such a country as that all alone?'
'I think it would be better so than with a wife he does not--love.'
'Who says I do not love you?'
'Or with one who does--not--love him.' This she said very slowly, very softly, but looking up into his eyes as she said it.
'Do you tell me that to my face?'
'Yes;--what good can I do now by lying? You have not been to me as I thought you would be.'
'And, because you have built some castle in the air that has fallen to pieces, you tell your husband to his face that you do not love him, and that you prefer not to live with him.Is that your idea of duty?'
'Why have you been so cruel?'
'Cruel! What have I done? Tell me what cruelty.Have I beat you? Have you been starved? Have I not asked and implored your assistance,--only to be refused? The fact is that your father and you have found out that I am not a rich man, and you want to be rid of me.Is that true or false?'
'It is not true that I want to be rid of you because you are poor.'
'I do not mean to be rid of you.You will have to settle down and do your work as my wife in whatever place it may suit me to live.Your father is a rich man, but you shall not have the advantage of his wealth unless it comes to you, as it ought to come, through my hands.If your father would give me the fortune which ought to be yours there need be no going abroad.He cannot bear to part with his money, and therefore we must go.Now you know all about it.' She was then turning to leave him, when he asked her a direct question.'Am I to understand that you intend to resist my right to take you with me?'
'If you bid me go,--I shall go.'
'It will be better, as you will save both trouble and expense.'
Of course she told her father what had taken place; but he could only shake his head, and groaning over his misery in his chambers.He had explained to her what he was willing to do on her behalf, but she declined his aid.He could not tell her that she was wrong.She was the man's wife, and out of that terrible destiny she could not now escape.The only question with him was whether it would not be best to buy the man,--give him a some of money to go, and to go alone.Could he have been quit of the man even for 20,000 pounds, he would willingly have paid the money.
But the man would either not go, or would come back as soon as he got the money.His own life, as he passed it now, with this man in the house with him, was horrible to him.For Lopez, though he had more than once threatened that he would carry his wife to another home, had taken no steps towards getting that other house ready for her.
