A Shock

           ItwasonaMayday,andIsawMaryaccompanyherhusbandasfarasthefirstcrossing,whenceshewavedhimoutofsightasifhehadboardedanAtlantic-liner.Allthistimesheworethefaceofawomanhappilymarriedwhomeanttogostraighthome,theretoawaitherlord’sgloriousreturn;andthemilitary-lookinggentlemanwatchingherwithaboredsmilesawnothingbetterbeforehimthanachapterontheDomesticFelicities.Oh,Mary,canyounotprovidemewiththetiniestlittleplot?

           Hallo!

           Nosoonerwasshehidfromhimthanshechangedintoanotherwoman;shewasnowbecomeacalculatingpurposefulmadam,wholookedaroundhercovertlyand,havingshrunkinsizeinordertoappearlessnoticeable,setoffnervouslyonsomemysteriousadventure.

           “Thedeuce!”thoughtI,andfollowedher.

           Likeoneanxioustokeepanappointment,shefrequentlyconsultedherwatch,lookinglongatit,asifitwereoneofthosewatchesthatdonotgiveuptheirsecretuntilyouhavemadeamentalcalculation.Onceshekissedit.Ihadalwaysknownthatshewasfondofhercheaplittlewatch,whichhegaveher,Ithink,onthedayIdroppedtheletter,butwhykissitinthestreet?Ah,andwhythenreplaceitsohurriedlyinyourleather-belt,Mary,asifitwereguilttoyoutokissto-day,oranyday,thewatchyourhusbandgaveyou?

           ItwillbeseenthatIhadmadeaveryrapidjourneyfromlightthoughtstouneasiness.Iwantednoplotbythetimeshereachedherdestination,astreetoftawdryshops.