Page:Orley Farm (Serial Volume 13).pdf/22

70 came out from the entry which led to her husband's chambers, might have come down from some other set of rooms. Had she been quite certain she would have attacked her rival there, laying bodily hands upon her in the purlieus of the Lord Chancellor's Court. As it was, the poor bruised creature was allowed to pass by, and as she emerged out into the light at the other end of the passage Mrs. Furnival became quite certain of her identity.

'Never mind,' she said to herself. 'She sha'n't escape me long. Him I could forgive, if he would only give it up; but as for her—! Let what come of it, come may, I will tell that woman what I think of her conduct before I am many hours older.' Then, giving one look up to the windows of her husband's chambers, she walked forth through the dusty old gate into Chancery Lane, and made her way on foot up to No. 23 Red Lion Square. 'I'm glad I've done it,' she said to herself as she went; 'very glad. There's nothing else for it, when things come to such a head as that.' And in this frame of mind she knocked at her friend's door.

'Well!' said Martha Biggs, with her eyes, and mouth, and arms, and heart all open.

'Have you got me the lodgings?' said Mrs. Furnival.

'Yes, close by;—in Orange Street. I'm afraid you'll find them very dull. And what have you done?'

'I have done nothing, and I don't at all mind their being dull. They can't possibly be more dull than Harley Street.'

'And I shall be near you; sha'n't I?' said Martha Biggs.

'Umph,' said Mrs. Furnival. 'I might as well go there at once and get myself settled.' So she did, the affectionate Martha of course accompanying her; and thus the affairs of that day were over.

Her intention was to go down to Hamworth at once, and make her way up to Orley Farm, at which place she believed that Lady Mason was living. Up to this time she had heard no word of the coming trial beyond what Mr. Furnival had told her as to his client's 'law business.' And whatever he had so told her, she had scrupulously disbelieved. In her mind all that went for nothing. Law business! she was not so blind, so soft, so green, as to be hoodwinked by such stuff as that. Beautiful widows don't have personal interviews with barristers in their chambers over and over again, let them have what law business they may. At any rate Mrs. Furnival took upon herself to say that they ought not to have such interviews. She would go down to Orley Farm and she would have an interview with Lady Mason. Perhaps the thing might be stopped in that way.

On the following morning she received a note from her husband the consideration of which delayed her proceedings for that day.