A WOMAN-OF-THE-WORLD’S ADVICE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12535, 24 June 1901, Page 3

A WOMAN-OF-THE-WORLD’S ADVICE.

(By F. 0. PHILLIPS.) Mrs Algernon Toynbee was one of the most unnecessarily miserable, women in London. Young, handsome, possessing a rich husband, and every qualification to shine in society, she felt that all these advantages were thrown away because hex husband neglected her. As a matter of fact, it was not actual neglect, but only the result of the lives they led. Algernon Toynbee certainly liked racing, and be also preferred spending bis evenings at a club to doing so at home.. But, for all that, he loved his wife in a modified—or, perhaps, I ought to say, modern—fashion, which is not demonstration, and which occasionally leads the wife to rebel. He could not understand that his wife was not satisfied to have plenty of money to spend and entire liberty of action. He thought her very unreasonable, and sometimes told her so. On these occasions, Mrs Toynbee would retort—"l married you for love—not money.” “Then you are particularly lucky,” he would answer, “for you have both.” And so they gradually drifted apart, and Mrs Toynbee had decided to suffer in faience. Her husband’s chaffing sarcasm irritated her more than his indifference. It was only natural that when things arrived at this'stage there should appear on the scene a third person capable and willing to heal her wounded feelings. The person in question was one of those idle young men with “fatal” looks, whose only aim in life appears to be to sow discord in married lives, and who are to be met with in all well, constituted society. He did not make violent love to Mrs Toynbee—that was not part of his system, to begin with—but he let fall careless remarks concerning his own miserable, misunderstood life; and, later on, he cautiously hinted that perhaps Mrs Toynbee’s life was no happier than his. Evelyn Toynbee began being flattered at the interest he took in. her, and gradually she took an interest In him. In course of time, this interest developed into friendship, followed , by a mild kind of love, and it had now almost reached the stage of frenzied passion. Mr Toynbee neither saw nor cared what happened, and other people who did,, and were perhaps a little jealous of her, congratulated heron having such “a dear, delightful husband.”

Amongst those who perhaps saw-clearer than anyone and who made no comment was her bosom friend, Lady BarMy-West, They * were near neighbours, the Toynbees living in, Hans Place arid Lady BarklyWest in Cadogan .Square. The was a thorough woman oi the world, the widow of a baronet who bad left her a large fortune —on condition that she did not remarry-: —and a consumptive child to bring up. There were few days on which these ladies did not meet. When first Evelyn had settled in London, she Was very inexperienced, and she had accepted Lady Barkly-Weab as friend, guide and counsellor. And yet, now that a crisis had arrived in her existence, she did not seek her friend’s advice. Lady Barkly-West had the reputation of being a woman of unimpeachable morals: no one had ever accused her. of the slightest deviation from the path of matrimonial rectitude, or coupled her name with that of any man. And yet she was not dull or prudish. A woman of thirty-five, still very handsome, always' beautifully dressed, and entertaining largely, she might have had many admirers, but she knew just where to draw the line when they showed signs of replacing cordiality by what she laughingly called “tomfoolery.” • As I have said, she saw clearly whither Evelyn Toynbee was drifting, and she was very sorry for her. Whenever she called at Hans Place, she generally found Mr Downey in a sentimental attitude in the drawingroom. She saw them together at the theatre, at Sandown, in the Park, whenever and wherever they could conveniently meet. She knew Mr Downey better, perhaps, than Evelyn, but she decided to say nothing. Although she was really attached to her, and .would be very sorry “if anything happened,” she knew- that advice in the present state of things would only add fuel , to the flame. “If she wishes for my advice and experience, she will ask for it,” she thought. “But I will not be'the first to offer it.” .1

It was about this time that Evelyn did decide that something must be done. Her husband’s indifference had reached 1 a climax, and Mr Downey’s attentions had become so pressing:that she felt that they were really made for each other,, and that her marriage was a gigantic blunder which it was her duty .to correct. She had wavered and fought long enough. Henceforth she would belong to the only man .who understood her and was ready to sacrifice everything for her. Only, there must be no half measures. She would have no clandestine meetings and stolen kisses; they must make a desperate plunge and run away together. His love was overwhelming, and she would reward it by making a sacrifice of everything a woman .holds most dear. Fortunately, she bad no children; her husband would not miss her—only she would suffer by , being a social outcast. Having heroically made this decision, she commenced making her plans. She was going to a ball that night where she knew she would meet her lover, and she would tell him of the resolution she had made. But, first of all, she would invite herself to dinner with Lady Barkly-West, who, she knew, was doing nothing that evening. She would, perhaps, tell her of the desperate step she was about to take,, but that would depend on circumstances. Lady Barkly-West was very pleased to have her, especially as she felt sure there was something in the air, but she refrained from mentioning Mr Downey’s name or making any allusion to him. Evelyn appeared uneasy and nervous; she talked rapidly and almost at random, flying from one topic to another, without any apparent reason. It was only after dinner, encouraged by Lady Barkly-West’s genial manner, that she decided to make a clean breast of her position. “This is the last time we shall dine together,” she began. “I am going away to-morrow.” “Really?” said her friend, without exhibiting any particular surprise. “ But I suppose you will come back—the season is only ’half over?” “No, I shall not come back,” said Evelyn, looking steadily at the carpet; “1 shall never come back.” “How tragically you speak! Are you ill?” “ Yes,, very ill.” “ What is the matter with you?” “Disgust with my life.” “Oh, that is a very handsome complaint,” laughed Lady Barkly-West; “but, fortunately, you can find a remedy. You can leave the hollow shams of society and try a country life.” “Yes, that is what I am going to do,' 1 said Evelyn, hesitatingly, “ only—only I am not going alone.” “ Your-husband going with you?” “No, someone else.” Then there was a pause. After a time, Lady Barkly-West rose, and, putting her hand affectionately on Evelyn’s shoulder, said: “ I think I can guess—you mean Cecil Downey?” Evelyn nodded her head. “ Has he asked you to run away with him ?” “ No, I am going to ask him.” Then Lady Barkly-West sighed, an immense sigh of relief. “ You are safe, my dear,” she said. “He will refuse-” . , , Evelyn looked up in surprise. “He loves me devotedly,’ she said, “ and Algernon does not care what I do. ' He will be glad to be rid of me.” “ I am sorry to say I don’t believe either of those statements. Cecil Downey cares only for himself, and your husband is a very fair specimen of the everyday hueband—absolutely without vice. He is easygoing and careless—perhaps a little too much so. But -why should he have married you if he didn’t love you? You hadn’t a penny.” “ I know I hadn’t,” answered Evelyn tearfully, “ but I lovc-i

“Of course you did, and so you dp hot —only you don’t know your own mind.” “ I love Cecil Downey now. We are the necessary complement of each other. He has told me so over and over again. Why should we both be eternally miserable for the sake of a silly old. 1 marriage service having been rpd over my head, half of which I didn’t understand or even listen to?”

“ It is fortunate everyone does not think so lightly of the marriage service. Personally, I think it is an excellent institution, and one to be very much respected.” “Oh, of course, you are above reproach and temptation, and all that sort of thing! I don’t know why I confided in you. I felt it would be ungrateful of me to go away without wishing you good-bye,” and some tears stood in her eyes. “If I am above reproach, and all that sort of thing, at is, perhaps, because I have seen the utter folly of being otherwise,” said Lady Barkly-West gravely. “There is no merit in being temptationproof unless one has been tempted.”

“Of course, I know you are . very much admired,” said Evelyn, “but no one would dare make real love to you.” Lady Barkly-West laughed. “Do you think: so,?” she said. “ You are, mistaken. Men have loved me—or rather, they have said so.” “ But, then, you did not care for them.” “ I cared for one, the one who made the most violent protestations, until my eyes were opened.” “That is different. He did not love you as Mr Downey loves me.” “Perhaps not,” said Lady Barkly-West, carelessly; “and yet, oddly enough, his name was Cecil Downey.” “Do you mean to say ?” gasped Evelyn. ‘ “ Yes, my dear Evelyn. It is a disagreeable thing to have to tell you, but at one time—not so very long ago—Mr Downey was going to cut his throat or hang himself, or I know not what, tinless I gave him hope. It was just before ray husband died. When he heard of the will, life without me did not seem to possess the same terrors for him, and he cooled down. So did I. I did not regret him in the least. I only felt humiliated at having been loved for my money. If I had given him ‘hope’ during my husband’s life, it would have been all right, but to be saddled with a penniless wife, was more than his manly shoulders could bear.” Evelyn sat staring at her with a feeling of being stunned. Was Lady Barkly-West really telling the truth, or was this a history invented by her to save her young friend from the peril by which she was threatened? She could not believe Cecil Downey to be mercenary, and she almost believed him when he said that he had never loved anyone until he met her. The shock was terrible—almost overwhelming. At last,' she gathered sufficient strength to say, “ I suppose it is - not a joke you are playing on me?” “A joke?” asked Lady Barkly-West, raising her eyebrows. , “Yes ; I mean, you might, in your kindness, have thought of this to save me from what I am about to do.” “I should scarcely joke on such a subject,” said Lady Barkly-West. “No, I suppose not,” said Evelyn, with a sickly little smile. “Then it is xeally true?” “What I have told you is the absolute truth. But if you would like to see some of his letters—l think I have kept them.” “ Oh no I I should hate to see them!” And then there was another pause. Evelyn was thinking how disagreeably this news had affected her whole life. It was almost ridiculous to be told that the man for whom she was prepared to make etjch an heroic sacrifice would probably decline it with thanks. It was humiliating beyond words. And then vanity came .to her aid. Perhaps he had only had an exaggerated flirtation .with Lady Barkly-West. He did not feel the same love for her as he now felt, for Evelyn. Lady Barkly-West was ten. years older than Evelyn. And yet, the letters! Perhaps she had better see -them to convince herself./ No!. She decided that she would rather not. And yet it would be difficult to put him to any test. She could scarcely bear the affront of his refusing if she asked him to run away with her. In, her bewilderment, she said at last, “You have dealt me a very hard blow.” “ I am sorry,” said Lady Barkly-West, “but it only fair that I should give you my experience. Of course, it rests entirely between ourselves. I suffered at the time because—well, I suppose I really loved him, and he promised me the devotion of a lifetime and a lot of other nonsense, which •was only humbug. I sea you scarcely believe me. If this is the ease, follow out your programme, and judge for yourself how he likes the idea of an elopement followed by an appearance in the Divorce Court.”

“He might not mind, for my sake,” said Evelyn weakly. “ Perhaps not; you are younger and more attractive than I.” “ Oh, no; I don’t mean that!” said Evelyn, quickly ; “ only ” “Yes, you do mean that, and I am not in the least offended. Every woman thinks she is loved as no woman has ever been loved before. I thought so myself when I was at your stage.” “I am so miserable at home,” wailed Evelyn. “ Why are you miserable? You have everything to make you happy.” “ I have money, and society, and all that sort of thing; but Algernon doesn’t care two straws for me, and Mr Downey swears that I have ruined his whole life.”

Lady Barkly-West smiled. “ Hasn’t he threatened to cut his throat yet?” she said. “ Please don’t make fun of our—our affection,” said Evelyn. “It is really sacred.”

“I hope it will remain so. If you were to run away with him, it would become immoral, vulgar, commonplace..” “ We should net be the first couple who have sacrificed the world for love,” said Evelyn. “ And of all sacrifices it is the most useless and silly,” said Lady Barkly-West., “ The love of two young people which has for its basis only passion and rebellion is the least lasting of all. 1 am not going to preach you a sermon, dear,” she said, as she noticed Evelyn’s impatient movement ; “ but do believe me when I tell you that you haven’t a thousand-to-one chance of remaining happy after the first six months. You may neither of you care about society. Nowadays it is the fashion to say that one is bored by everything and everybody. I grant that your expulsion from every decent house may not affect you, and that you have no friendships about which you care. But have you thought of your relations, of the mother who brought you up, oi your father who, perhaps, idolised you as a child? Have you thought of the lasting disgrace that you will bring on them, and that they also will close their doors to you?” “My parents would never close their doors to me,” said Evelyn, a little doubtfully. “ Then they could receive you only in secrecy and when you were away from Mr Downey. No one would go to their house if they thought they would meet ‘ the daughter who is away with some man.’ ” “ How horrid you are!” exclaimed Evelyn, driven to desperation. “I should never wish to meet any of their odious friends.”

“ Tien the feeling would be mutual, but that wouldn’t make it any the better for your parents.” ‘‘What am I to do?” said Evelyn, in another burst of despair. “ Will you take my advice if I offer it?” asked Lacly Barkly-West. “ Your advice can be only that of a woman who has extraordinary control over her feelings, and who has, perhaps, very little heart,” said Evelyn. “ Thank you, dear! I have quite as much heart as you, only I have much more experience of the world and its Mr Downeys. Don’t go to your ball tonight. Of course, you are going to meet him there and listen to all his sentimental rubbish. Stay here as long as you like, and then go home, and, if Mr Toynbee is not in, sit up for him. When he comes tell him that yon are tired of Lon*

don and the opposite lives you are both leading; ask him to take you abroad at once, or on a yachting cruise—anywhere where you 1 will be able to see more of each other.”

“He would refuse, without a moment’s hesitation,” said Evelyn, quickly. “Not if you put the proposition strongly enough. If he does persist inrefusing, tell him that you have been dining with mo and that this is my advice.” “ What effect would that have?” asked Evelyn sharply. “ Surely you are not going to tell me that you have secrets with my husband ? Has he, too, been making love to you ?” Lady Barkly-West hurst out laughing. “I don’t remember his having ever done so, although I have known him nearly all my life. It is not a question of love, but I rather fancy he has confidence in my judgment.”

“He would ask me a lot of awkward questions. It is impossible for me to follow your advice.” “ Would you like mo to speak to him ?” “Oh no; still less-* You would tell ham my secret.” “I should certainly not do so! without your permission. You think I have been lecturing you. Why shouldn’t I lecture him? Mind you, I would rather not. I particularly dislike interfering between husband and wife, only, as you have confided in me ” “Yes, it is very kind of you. You are the only friend I have.” “ And even that friendship would hot remain if you disgraced yourself with Cecil Downey.” “ I cannot believe that he does not love me,” said Evelyn. . “I dare say he does love you after his fashion. You are extremely pretty and fascinating, but I very much doubt his willingness to make the sacrifice of his life for you,", said Lady Barkly-West. And then she took both Evelyn’s hands in hens and continued“ Believe me, no man is worth that sacrifice. In six months you would hate him far more than you have ever disliked Algernon.” “I don’t hate Algernon,” said Evelyn; “only he is so unkind." “He is not unkind; be is only thoughtless.”

.“He ought not to be thoughtless; he ought to think of me sometimes.” “I dare say he does, only mien always think more of themselves. You would find Cecil Downey exactly the same, amd you would have the additional disadvantage of having no friends to fall back upon. You look perfectly lovely to-night in your balldress. Let your husband see you in all your glory when he comes home, and I will wager that he won’t refuse your proposition.” The idea of her loveliness and her balldress was a nail which drove home. It suddenly occurred to Mrs Toynbee that after to-night she would have no need for ball-dresses, and that her loveliness would be appreciated only by Mr Downey. “I believe you are right,” she said. “I suppose I ought to give him one more chance.”

And thus it was that, within a very few days after that conversation, people were surprised to read in the “Morning Post” that Mr and Mrs Algernon Toynbee had left London for Norway, and would not return for some months.

The next time Mr ‘Downey met Lady Barkly-West, he asked her carelessly if she knew why they had left so suddenly. “ I can’t think,” she said smilingly, “ unless it be that my wits are just a little sharper than yours.” And to this provoking reply Mr Downey found nothing to Bay. .