This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1885 Excerpt: ... which one has. When his anticipations in this respect were falsified, he was thankful, and asked no questions, as perhaps Clare secretly hoped that he might do. He said to himself that he detested scenes, and wouldn't provoke one. Possibly, it might have been better to have a scene and a reconcilia tion than to allow his wife to hold him at arm's length; but he doubted whether any reconciliation could be effected at this time without concessions which he was not prepared to offer; so, although her coldness made him unhappy, he did not attempt to break it down, but only threw himself with redoubled energy into the work and play with which every hour of his day was easily filled. Estrangements usually begin when quarrels end, since quarrels are such unpleasant things that few care to pick them with those whom they do not love; but Vidal and his wife became estranged now less from indifference than from a certain lack of moral courage on both sides. If one of them was more to blame than the other, it was probably Clare, who ought to have trusted her husband until she had clear proof that he was undeserving of trust. She was also by far the more miserable of the two, having little to do but to brood over her troubles, whereas Adrian was busy from morning to night. The latter had been in the habit, ever since he had reached years of discretion, of seeking sympathy and counsel from Heriot, and he would not have departed from this custom in his present strait, had he not been deterred by a presentiment that Heriot would declare him to be in the wrong. Now, there is no sort of comfort to be got out of the advice of those who won't take your side; and Vidal knew this so well that he gave Brook Street a wide berth, thereby making it quite plain to his friend that so...