Ashton meant the full meaning of
the word.
"You were always your own enemy, Val."
"Ay. Heaven alone knows the extent of my folly; and of my punishment."
From that hour Lord Hartledon and the Rectory were not total strangers to
each other. He called there once in a way, rarely seeing any one but the
doctor; now and then Mrs. Ashton; by chance, Anne. Times and again was it
on Val's lips to confide to Dr. Ashton the nature of the sin upon his
conscience; but his innate sensitiveness, the shame it would reflect
upon him, stepped in and sealed the secret.
Meanwhile, perhaps he and his wife had never lived on terms of truer
cordiality. _There were no secrets between them_: and let me tell you
that is one of the keys to happiness in married life. Whatever the past
had been, Lady Hartledon appeared to condone it; at least she no longer
openly resented it to her husband. It is just possible that a shadow of
the future, a prevision of the severing of the tie, very near now, might
have been unconsciously upon her, guiding her spirit to meekness, if not
yet quite to peace. Lord Hartledon thought she was growing strong; and,
save that she would rather often go into a passion of hysterical tears as
she clasped her children to her, particularly the boy, her days passed
calmly enough. She indulged the children beyond all reason, and it was of
no use for their father to interfere.
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