Page:The Fate of Fenella (1892).djvu/213

 There was a pause, and they looked at one another as a duelist regards an opponent—neither anxious to begin, both on guard. Again she laughed.

"You are not very cheerful company this evening."

"Then I will make my visit as short as possible."

"Ah, you are paying me a visit, are you? You purpose obtaining a separation."

"There is no necessity for a separation."

"I see, then, you will obtain a divorce. I have always been told that in America there are special facilities for disjoining marriage ties. Is New York a good place for that sort of thing?"

"There is no necessity, madame, to dissolve marriage ties."

"You are very, very serious this evening," said Lucille, putting the cigarette in her mouth. "I hate conundrums. All this afternoon I have been worrying myself to find an answer to the riddle, why I became your wife?"

"You never did become my wife," replied the colonel shortly.

Lucille turned pale, and then her face was suffused with color. She rose to her full height.

"And you have come to tell me this?"

"Now, madame, see here; I don't want any heroics. I am going to take it quietly, and I advise you to do the same. Now, what I have to