A Reconstructed Marriage

e found it necessary to her enjoyment of the Sabbath Day that her mind should be free from all worldly obligations. This was one of the

oor of her mother's room. No notice was taken of the intruder for a few moments, but her presence proving disastrou

? You are disturbing me v

, but I think the occ

s the o

brother's room that I fe

waited until I had f

y be home by an early train. I think he wi

Sabbath? Impossible! What set

; but I think he will stop at a town called Kend

never heard of the place.

letters with the Kendal post-office stamp came to Robert this w

l Camp

he truth

me this singular ci

gry at my noticing his letters. I have no right to inte

ou told

mot

t el

ble, loosely folded in tissu

nnot have The Word to

nds this copy of the Word f

you think

he cover has engraved upon it the word Theodora. Can you imagine Robert Traquair Campbell

nd letters. Her hard, handsome face was flushed with anger, her tawny-color

our opinio

g man gives such a Bible. I am compelled to believe that Robert is eng

mit him to bring a stranger here, and an Englishwoman is out of all consideration. Theodora, ind

, mother. I never knew a

ill find that out very quickly. Why, Isabel, Honor is before Love, and Honor compels Robert to marry Jane Dalkeith. Her father saved Robert's father from utter ruin, and I b

sure that if the Campbells owed her money, she would have collected it long ag

s about their business. They will not answer the

Dalkeith

e as old as I am, you will have

and look at

. He has his defence ready on the supposition that I will ask him about this Theodora. On the contrary, he shall bring

th your Saturday's duties, mother

el, when Robert comes home, ask him no questions, and give him no hint as to what has been discovered. I am very angry at him. He ought to have told me about

stop to it at

t?" she cried scornful

a very dete

n. At the last and the long, i

es the m

then, it is always a barren vict

is gey stubborn, and I feel sure that in this case h

rance was entirely occupied by her bills and letters. Isabel gave her one strange, inexplicable look ere s

istina's rooms. At present she was "out" with Christina, and they had not spoken to each other, when alone, for three days. But now the pleasure of having something new and unusual to

nded for her, and, opening the door, went into the room. Christina, who was reading, lifted her eyes and then dropped them again to the book. For she was amazed at her sister's visit, and knew not what to say, priority of birth being in English and Scotch families of some co

in, Christina realized that her elder sister had made a silent advance, and that she was expected to speak

appy without your company. You know I have no friend b

her. No one else seems to care anything

ht to have known you were not w

own. But we will not go into explanations. It

each other are the only pleasure I have. I wonder if the

not effect our lives much-it is too late for that, Christina-but we shall have the fun of watching the

ents, sorrows, and tragic mistakes of the children of long ago; and later by their pathetic acquiescence in their ill-assorted fates, and the cruel certainty of youth gone forever, without the knowledge of youth's delights. Isabel was now t

. Mrs. Campbell was a woman of iron constitution, iron nerves, and principles of steel. She was never sick, and she was angry if her children were s

ty a manager who knew what he was doing, and who was amenable to advice. Then Traquair Campbell, unwilling to acknowledge any superior, became a semi-invalid; and retired to a seclusion which had no other duty than the indulgence of his every whim and desire, making his two daughters the handmaids of his idle, self-centred hours. Year after year this

d environment had been tragically unfortunate. Only the loftiest or the sweetest of spirits could have dominated the evil influences by which they were surrounded, and tur

eloped. Their faces were dull and uninteresting for want of that interior light of the soul and intellect without which "the human face divine" is not divine-is indeed only flesh and blood. Their abundant hair was badly cared for, and not becomingly arranged; their figures, in spite of tight lacing, badly managed and ungracefully clothed; their eyes, though d

n dark brown merino, with a narrow band of white linen round their throats. Each had fastened the linen band

w at present, a faint smile of satisfaction was on her face. Chris

mpatiently. "How, or why, are things go

s to be a marria

? Old lawyer Galt has bee

is not

it is

nodded

ull, angry glow, and there were

live with Jane Dalkeith. She is worse than mother. She would cou

y; but I am led to believe Robert

ry? I never heard of Robert

the person he is p

ll me. I will never me

me is T

you know, it sounds like a Christian

. I do not kno

it out-I mean Robe

tina listened with greedy interest. "You know, Christina," she added

re engaged. Our Maggie and Kitty did; they showed them t

. If so, a great man

ll you kno

has written to Robert. I s

tters, I

oubt

Do you know w

wn calle

Is it near Motherwell? Robe

in En

Whatever will mother say? How could Robert th

There will be some grand set-tos between mother

rt giving up the Englishwom

he will be able.

en under mothe

ow master of the works, and you will see that he will be master of the house also. He will take pos

r a change. I am almost weary of my

has a way of his own, and that

talk strict and positive, and hold her head as high as

take her talking. I have se

is his

than any words-a silence that

in any change. I am almost sure Robert will be home to-day at one o'clock, for if I am not mistaken, it will be the Caledonian Railway Station at three o'clock. T

find out ab

I suppose

and surely he will not think of making love so near the Sabbath Da

any day he pleases; even Scotchwomen would listen g

it might be

it would; anyway

her of us will be led

nstairs. I have no more to say at prese

iends agai

adow between us, but it is only a shadow-nothing to i

idea it wa

e servants to be whispering and sni

er seen in the older time. The lids, drawn horizontally over them, spoke for the man's acuteness and dexterity of mind, and perhaps also for his superior cunning. He was arrogant in manner, a trait either inherited or assumed from his mother. In disposition he

or the necessity for work; he had lost nothing by death and was only beginning to gain by loving. In the eyes of all who knew him his conduct was blameless. He was very righteous, and a great stickler fo

eal was nearly over that he said: "There will be a new preacher in our church to-morrow morning. I am s

the doctor?" ask

d at my office on a lit

ou not hear the

and by the three o'

istina, and Mrs. Campbell said: "I

all go to

here a gr

to my duty t

new that she was aware of the facts that she had positively asserted she would not name, and he divined her intention to put him in the position of one who confesses a fault or acknowledges a w

eturn, Robert?"

or gold-silver from you will be remarked on." He opened the door to these words, and,

yes a moment, and then began to fold her napkin; Christina took the opportunity to help herself to another tartlet. It was an uncomfortable pause, not to be relieved until M

nch; you can safely bide my ti

hem smaller every day. There is

ook no notice o

"what do you think o

e sudden change

es

it could be, unless he suspected from your remark that you had se

likely, but I'm no

he sees through people as

he object to tell us about her? Is she too goo

force his confidence. Robert Campbell is a very suspicious man. He has a bad tempe

gates the outs and the ins of everything, and argues and argues about the most trifling matter; but I must say, he is always in t

offered him one th

as it stands, is an utterly unspeakable business. We will le

" answere

, "what do you say about the ne

as aye got some wonderfully gifted tongue in his pulpit

we were not t

myself, I am not going to church at all to-morrow. I am o'erfull of my own thoughts and

t the collection

sion of the heathen is in God's wise foreknowledge, and He will accomplish it in His own

said Christina. "Dr. Robertson read us prophecies to prove it,

Theodora, and the like of her. I hope the world will not come to an end while I live. As to the collection, you might ea

young peop

are not supposed to have money to give away; women w

ities is to be born a woma

orably treated. Mrs. Oliphant, who is from New York, told me a respectable man always consulted his wife about his bus

s an American," said Isabel. "Mr

king capital. People say, 'Tom Oliphant has been lucky,' and so he has, because he had intelligence enough to take his wife's advice. But this

ally unhappy. Some opposition to her supremacy she foresaw, but the impending s

self, "and as for Theodora-that for Theodora!" An

d monotonous speech were in remarkable contrast to the passionate eagerness of the elder woman, whose whole body radiated scorn and ange

g the Caledonian S

" replied Chri

e that nam

girl also

e to do in our family? The Campb

rtson will ask us to m

fresh in his pocket. They are all of them poor and sickeningly young. No man is fit

f Mrs. Oliphant

s what she is talki

t you see in

would like to

not call o

ither of her conversation,

ely. I wish I cou

at her feet-and stops there; but she is certainly very clever, and her husband waits on her like a lover. The men look at him

the work I did yester

nteres

ould like to practise a little, bu

s had a knack of playing uns

Sundays in a wee

uated, and as they stood at the door of Isabel's room, Christina said: "At eight

ourself, C

attention to anything I

caused the footman to stand still in the middle of the drawing-room with the little silver kettle steaming in his hand. She took her own cup with a sigh, and every time she lifted it or put it down, she sighed deeply. Very soon Isabel b

ight. Mrs. Campbell cast reproachful eyes upon it. "It reminds me, Isabel," she sighed; "

er. Robert is quite able

d no doubts about the road he was taking. He leaped into a cab, left his valise at the Crown Inn, and then rode rapidly down

lked lightly towards the little gate to welcome him. She had a tall, elastic, slender figure, and moved with swift,

illed his eyes and heart with her loveliness. Then they went into the cottage and he found-as Isabel had predicted-that tea was waiting for him. Theodor

Newton?" a

"He will be here in a few minutes. H

pure, translucent soul such as God loves. Her eyes transfigured her, but the process was not intentional. Her sensitive lips, her bright soft smile, her joyful heart, the fulness of her health and life, all these things

of one straining after things invisible. A singular unearthliness pervaded the whole man, and his spare form appear

Robert Campbell remarked that, "Sunday newspapers, Sunday magazines, and above all Sunday trips down

Word made Flesh that prevails. As soon as a real preacher appears, what crowds follow him! Not to go back to the preachers of old, consider only Farrar, Lid

he influence of the pulpi

nt man in the pulpit, there will b

y highly-cultured, up-to

nd personal application, such as Christ gave them. Remember for a moment His everyday similes and parables: the lighting of a candle, the seeking of a piece of lost silver, the search for the lost sheep. That is one kind of sermon that a

his thoughts, leaning forward with a burning look

ed to logical and argumentative discourses," but h

ongregations in the pulpit, as they never

and material things; we believe it might hav

en killed by contempt, or inefficiency, or ignorance, or too much book learning, or by any other cause, the im

ratorical power a neces

followed by another equally long, separated by a sharp fracture like the utterance of a primitive saint or martyr; but also like a direct message from heaven. And never, while I live, shall I forget the ecstasy of love and longing with which he cried out:

which perfumed the warm, still air, and the full moon made everything beautiful, and Theodora loveliest of all. And though it was near the Sabbath, Robert did not hold his sisters' c

ed him to ask that question, which if asked from the heart, is never forgotten. Theodora answered it with a shy but loving honesty. The little word which made all things sure was softly spoken, and then the purple Bible was given, and cl

rd of it. He was listening to the tale of love in his heart, Theodora sat at his side, and he would not have changed places with the king on his throne. Love had

that many thought they had misjudged him on former occasions, and that after all he was really a fine fellow. Others wondered if he h

and the girl has acce

r thing,'

et out of love som

n, w

, a little more selfish, a little more sure of his

pend on the g

women may write themselves circumstances' '

efore seeing any one. He thought after dinner would be as good a time as any for the communication he had to make to his family. Something of a blusterer among men, he feared the woman he called mother. His si

his afternoon he had somehow lost this control. Sleep would not obey his demand, yet he lay still, be

f any kind. He was permitted to take his chair as silently as if he had never missed a meal with them. And though this behavior was in exact accord with his own desires, it did not suit him that n

ood Scotch collops were pleasant changes from the roast beef of old England, her Yorkshire

h to eating them so regularly, and though Jepson is constantly complaining of McNab's extravagance and ill-temper, I always say, 'I

t McNab alone. How did you lik

ch. I was not well. T

our opinio

k and Hebrew, of course, for they were necessary to a right reading of the Scriptures; but the Latin Grammar had no spiritual relations with literature of any kind-far from it. From what he had been told it was both idolatrous and immoral in its outcome. I suppose he is from Argyle, for when there was talk of e

t do you

t, and very likely has their covetous eye and greedy heart. He will get on, no doubt

ristina timidly. "His fine black eyes we

ious Calvinist

s and was good-looking

tina," said Robert severely. "

get on in this world. I notic

said Mrs. Campbell. "If you cann

the Argyle protection, furnished the conversation until the cloth was drawn, and the ladies had trifled awhile with

r. Then, mother, you and the girls will join me

rds sounded more like a command than a request. It is adding insult to injury to summon me to his room-for nobody goes to the libr

d for him to return

rs. Campbell's compliments, and she hopes Mr. Campbell will return to the

e would return to the dining-room immediately." Upon hearing which, Mrs. Campbell took a reclining position on the sofa