My ruin was entire. I had greatly
embarrassed my fortune in wild extravagances for Evelyn, and the
remainder I surrendered to my partners. Their criminations were somewhat
assuaged, and our partnership relations being dissolved, the business
was reorganized, and I was engaged in a humble clerical capacity. Moody
and taciturn, I was regarded simply as the ordinary victim of a
recklessly spendthrift wife, and was ridiculed and pitied as such. What
cared I for ridicule or pity?
A letter came from Evelyn, stating that she designed resuming her
profession, and would appear immediately in London. Sometime in the
Spring I should hear from her again.
Accompanying the letter was a formal legal surrender of such property as
she possessed by my gift or otherwise, and a demand that I should apply
it to cancel my obligations. She would hereafter, she said, provide for
herself. Except a small reservation for the benefit of the children, I
complied with her direction. No mandate of hers would I disobey.
So existence dragged on. I resided in a humble dwelling with my two
children. Their presence did not soothe me,--their infantile affection
made no appeal to my heart,--but their dependence claimed my
care.
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