The Second Honeymoon
Ruby Mildred Ayres
Literary Romance
Published 1918
Synopsis
The Second Honeymoon follows Jimmy Challoner, a cheerful young man deeply in love with Cynthia, an ambitious actress who ultimately rejects him for not being wealthy enough for her tastes. Set in London’s theatrical and social world, the heartbroken Jimmy turns for solace to his childhood friend Christine, whose steady affection contrasts sharply with Cynthia’s fickleness. Their relationship grows as they navigate their emotional uncertainty and the possibility of lasting love. The novel explores themes of romantic idealism, disappointment, and the healing power of genuine companionship. Jimmy’s journey from simple infatuation to mature love underscores the contrast between illusion and sincerity in matters of the heart.
Novel Excerpt
Out in the night Jimmy Challoner stood for a moment in the darkness, not knowing where to go or what to do.
He had had a bad shock. He could have borne it if she had only thrown him over for that other man; but that she should have thought it worth while to lie to him about it struck him to the soul. She had made a fool of him—an utter and complete fool; he would never forgive her as long as he lived.
After a moment he walked on. He carried his hat in his hand. The cool night air fanned his hot forehead.
He had lost everything that had made life worth living; that was his first passionate thought. Nobody wanted him—nobody cared a hang what became of him; he told himself that he could quite understand poor devils who jumped off bridges.
He went into the first restaurant he came to, and ordered a neat brandy; that made him feel better, and he ordered a second on the strength of it. The first shock had passed; anger took its place.
He would never forgive her; all his life he would never forgive her; she was not worth a thought. She had never been worth loving.
She was a heartless, scheming woman; little Christine Wyatt had more affection in the clasp of her hand than Cynthia had in the whole of her beautiful body.
The thought of Christine recalled Sangster’s words.
Sangster was a fool; he did not know what he was talking about. Christine and he had been sweethearts as children certainly, but that anything more could ever exist between them was absurd.
But he began to remember the little flush that always crept into Christine’s face when she saw him, the expression of her beautiful eyes; and the memory gave him back some of his lost self-confidence. Christine liked him, at all events; Christine would never have behaved as Cynthia had done.