Love and Jealousy

Yet Sybil was content. Her love, if, in some of its phases, it was a
jealous and exacting passion, in others was a noble and generous
principle. She would not spare a glance, a smile, a caress of his, to
any other woman; yet she would give him wholly up to his duty, his
profession, his country, or to any grand impersonal object. And the
few hours out of the twenty-four when she could enjoy his society apart
from her dreaded rival, compensated her for the many when he was absent
or engaged upon his professional duties.

But ah! this could not last!

It happened, very naturally, that while Mr. Lyon Berners spent his
mornings in the court-house, Mrs. Lyon Berners spent hers in receiving
the calls and congratulations of her friends, to whom she always
presented her permanent visitor, Mrs. Blondelle.

At length two unconnected events happened at the same time. The court
adjourned, and the last visit of ceremony was paid.

Sybil, at the instance of Mr. Berners, gave a dinner-party, and they
entertained the judges and barristers of the court. And upon that
occasion, Mrs. Blondelle of course was introduced, and equally of
course, her beauty made a very great sensation. And Sybil was well
pleased. She was perfectly willing that her protégé should outshine her
in every company, if only she did not outrival her in her husband's
admiration.

But ah! whether it was that the long interruption of his conversations
with the beautiful blonde had given a new zest to the pleasure he
enjoyed in her society, or whether his admiration for her had been ever,
under all circumstances, on the increase, or whether both these causes
combined to influence his conduct, is not known; but it is certain that
from this time, Lyon Berners became more and more blindly devoted to
Rosa Blondelle. And yet, under and over and through all this, the
husband loved his wife as he never did or could love any other woman.
But Rosa Blondelle was one of those vain and shallow women who must and
will have a sentimental flirtation or a platonic friendship with some
man or boy, always on hand. She, like those of her mischievous class,
really meant no harm, while doing a great deal of wrong. Such a woman
will engage a husband's affections and break a wife's heart from mere
vanity, and for mere pastime, without the slightest regard for either of
her victims. And yet, because, they have not been grossly guilty, as
well as deeply sinful, they retain their positions in society.