Her very virtue became as vinegar. Mrs. Brigg
was drowned in epithets and finally pushed furiously out into the
passage. Cuckoo turned from the door to Jessie yelping, and directed a
kick at the little dog. Jessie wailed, as only a toy dog can, like the
"mixture" stop of an organ, wailed and ran as one that runs to meet an
unknown future. Then Cuckoo pursued, caught her, and burst into tears
over her. The little creature's domed skull and india-rubber ears were
wet with the tears of her mistress. And she whimpered, too, but with much
relief, for she was back in her world of Cuckoo's lap; and could not be
quite unhappy there. But in what a world was Cuckoo!
It will be said that Dr. Levillier knew of her circumstances; but
anxiously kind and thoughtful though he was, he did not yet realize the
effect of his advice given to the lady of the feathers during the drive
on the Hampstead Heights. He had told her to prove her will by doing the
thing that Julian had asked of her. But he did not know what Julian had
asked. And he did not comprehend the bitter fruit that her following of
his further advice to keep from low and loveless actions must bring to
the ripening. When he spoke, as the sun went down on London, he was
carried on by excitement, and was thinking rather of the fate of Julian,
the _diablerie_ of Valentine, than of the individual life of the girl at
his side.
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