Chapter 8

Mrs. Trefusis found her parents so unsympathetic on the subject
of her marriage that she left their house shortly after her visit
to Lyvern, and went to reside with a hospitable friend. Unable to
remain silent upon the matter constantly in her thoughts, she
discussed her husband's flight with this friend, and elicited an
opinion that the behavior of Trefusis was scandalous and wicked.
Henrietta could not bear this, and sought shelter with a
relative. The same discussion arising, the relative said:

"Well, Hetty, if I am to speak candidly, I must say that I have
known Sidney Trefusis for a long time, and he is the easiest
person to get on with I ever met. And you know, dear, that you
are very trying sometimes."

"And so," cried Henrietta, bursting into tears, "after the
infamous way he has treated me I am to be told that it is all my
own fault."

She left the house next day, having obtained another invitation
from a discreet lady who would not discuss the subject at all.
This proved quite intolerable, and Henrietta went to stay with
her uncle Daniel Jansenius, a jolly and indulgent man. He opined
that things would come right as soon as both parties grew more
sensible; and, as to which of them was, in fault, his verdict
was, six of one and half a dozen of the other. Whenever he saw
his niece pensive or tearful he laughed at her and called her a
grass widow. Henrietta found that she could endure anything
rather than this. Declaring that the world was hateful to her,
she hired a furnished villa in St. John's Wood, whither she moved
in December. But, suffering much there from loneliness, she soon
wrote a pathetic letter to Agatha, entreating her to spend the
approaching Christmas vacation with her, and promising her every
luxury and amusement that boundless affection could suggest and
boundless means procure. Agatha's reply contained some
unlooked-for information.

"Alton College, Lyvern,

"14th December.

"Dearest Hetty: I don't think I can do exactly what you want, as
I must spend Xmas with Mamma at Chiswick; but I need not get
there until Xmas Eve, and we break up here on yesterday week, the
20th. So I will go straight to you and bring you with me to
Mamma's, where you will spend Xmas much better than moping in a
strange house. It is not quite settled yet about my leaving the
college after this term. You must promise not to tell anyone; but
I have a new friend here--a lover. Not that I am in love with
him, though I think very highly of him--you know I am not a
romantic fool; but he is very much in love with me; and I wish I
could return it as he deserves. The French say that one person
turns the cheek and the other kisses it. It has not got quite so
far