Tormented thus, he turned restlessly on his pillow with many a groan and
sigh, nor closed an eye in sleep till long past midnight.
He was sleeping very soundly when, about sunrise, Zoe opened her eyes.
She lay still for a moment listening to his breathing, while memory
recalled what had passed between them previous to her retiring.
"And there he lies and sleeps just as soundly as if he hadn't been playing
the tyrant to the woman he promised to love and cherish to life's end,"
she said to herself, with a flash of anger and scorn in her eyes. "Well, I
don't mean to be here when he wakes; I'll keep out of his way till he's
had his breakfast; for they say men are always savage on an empty
stomach."
She slipped cautiously out of the bed, stole quietly into the next room,
made her toilet, arraying herself in riding habit and hat, went
down-stairs, ordered her pony saddled and brought to the door, and was
presently galloping away down the avenue.
Edward had requested her never to go alone, always to take a servant as an
attendant, even if she had one of the children with her, and especially if
she had not; but she disregarded his wishes in this instance, partly from
a spirit of defiance, partly because she much preferred a solitary ride,
and could not see that there was any danger in it.
Pages:
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200