Mrs. Hilary didn't want you, of course?"
"Of course not," said I plaintively.
"Besides, you'd rather come with me, wouldn't you?" pursued
Dolly, and she added, pleasantly to the matron, "Mrs. Hilary's so
down on him, you know."
"I'd much rather come with you," said I.
"We'll have a cozy drive all to ourselves," said Dolly, "without
husbands or wives or anything horrid. Isn't it nice to get rid
of one's husband sometimes, Mrs. Wiggins?"
"I have the misfortune to be a widow, Lady Mickleham," said Mrs.
Wiggins.
Dolly's eyes rested upon her with an interesting expression. I
knew that she was about to ask Mrs. Wiggins whether she liked the
condition of life, and I interposed hastily, with a sigh:
"But you can look back on a happy marriage, Mrs. Wiggins?"
"I did my best to make it so," said she stiffly.
"You are right," said I. "Even in the face of unkindness we
should strive--"
"My husband's not unkind," said Dolly.
"I didn't mean your husband," said I.
"What your poor wife would do if she cared a button for you, I
don't know," observed Dolly.
"If I had a wife who cared for me, I should be a better man,"
said I solemnly.
"But you'd probably be very dull," said Dolly. "And you wouldn't
be allowed to drive with me.
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