A Reconstructed Marriage

y enough. He placed his chair at his mother's

against the room, for your father had a trick of sending for me to come there, whenever he was compelled to tell me of some

ther, I am going to be married in October, to the loveliest woman

I ask after th

s the Methodist preacher at Ke

gla

es

an Engli

cour

. I never knew a Scotc

fection. Her father belongs to the Nort

rd of them. You say he

eacher. I heard

f? Methodists are Arminians, and Arminians I hold i

of more tolerant ideas. But it makes no matter to me what creed Theodora bel

collapse o' good sense. But when I hear you say

es as I am now. The world was never so beautiful, and

f what you consider a beautiful woman, you are sacrificing your noblest feelings and traditions. Don't dece

one I wante

ention Jan

marry Jane if she was the

l others an Englishw

ided

mind to marry this doub

some time n

become of me, an

t I wish to

I shall have to leave the Kirk I have sat in for thirty-seven years, the minister who

, the northern half, and if you will continue the management of the house and table, we can all surely eat in our present dining-room. There will only be one more to cater for, and I will allow liberally for

peculation to al

anwhile be extremely indifferent. I have come at last, mother, to understand that

no one related to this earth. That is so

side all last Sunday and I learned this

e your sisters, and I do not like

we have so little sunshine in Scotland, we

ings are related to spiritual ordin

o business. Will you accept my proposal,

nder what kind of housekeeping will go on in it, with a college woman to superintend things? You woul

ou will stay her

o my duty,

ning to his sisters, he said: "I

We must stay where mother stays. It would be unkind t

nice," said Christina. "I

said Robert. "And, Isabel, I am not leaving any of you. Marriage will not alter me

s in the house, you will have to see a

emove all the old furniture from

ve it! W

y's aucti

, dear father's rooms, and

two years. Do you wish his rooms to rema

nd his bagatelle board go-let all go! The dead, a

, you had better remove early in the morning those huge glass cases of impaled insects and bu

rest. Your father valued the

objects. They make me shudder. How coul

ery curious and instructive, and

hanges you would like to make, we can d

nd as he closed the

like a red

wly blown

is like

etly playe

n the singer and the so

he could have done it more effectively. Christina was simply interested. There was really something going to happen, and as far as she could see, the change in the

ofa, and began to walk slowly up and do

signified my opinions and desire

r usual wisdom and

at I intend to be mistress in it? Why, girls, your father made me mistress

n father's place

orally mine, and always will be, while I choose to urge my claim. I a

Theodora's interests; and he would refute your moral clai

t require to be told why, or how, at the present time. I have a forecasting mind, and I can see how things are going to happen, but just now, we must keep a calm sound

son, and the Kirk, and pe

money. He always, in this respect, reminded me of his grandfather, whom every one called 'Old Economy.' Now, what is he doing? Squandering money on every hand! Expensive journeys for the sole end of love-making, expensive presents no doubt, half of Traquair House redecorated and refurnished, wedding expenses coming on, honeymoon expenses; goodness only knows what else will be

you do i

ecting, and advising, come most effectively from the passing events of daily life. As I

repared, mother, and miss points of advantage, or get

to learn the wisdom of building my wall

thing will get!" said Christ

icion, there a worriment, there a hesitation or a doubt. It is the bit-by-bitness tells! This is a forgetful world, so I mention this fact again. And remember also, that men are the most uncertain part of creation. I have known Robert Campbell thi

as they stood a moment at their bedroom doors, she said: "Mother is not to be

does! Anything for

I do not expe

or a woman in Kendal? Shut your eyes and forge

tory!" and the two doors shut softly to t

cts and butterflies, and the old-fashioned engravings of Sir Robert Peel, Lord Derby, the Duke of Wellington, and Queen Victoria's marriage ceremony were just leaving the house. Mrs

m to the letter. There is no use in you bothering and interfering," and with

elt herself to have been insulted beyond all pacification. Isabel had been a little in advance, and had not seen and heard the affront, but she was in thorough sympathy with her mother. Christina was differently affected. The idea of a workman telling her mother not to

s impertinence to you has made me hysterical, for I never saw you treated

Observe your sister and myself. We should be asha

I will go to my room

a drink of water. Remember, you must lear

ll, m

ulate: "It was too delicious, Isabel-too deliciously funny for anything! If you had seen that man stare mother in the face-and tell her not to inter

a privilege to tell mo

ow it is wicked, but mother does interfere too much. It is her sp

all feel it my duty to throw cold water

r interfering temper. That

hristina. What is t

l, and that heavy black furniture and the poor beetles a

ak correctly?

ust

will get mother to give

face, Isabel, when that man told her not to interfere. As for him, he had

e decently, as Christin

shall laugh. I

t to be ashame

what good d

his house, and if you intend to meet them with this idiotic l

ignored. The comic page of the newspapers, the only page she cared for, was generally removed; she could tell a funny story delightfully, but no one smiled if she did so; she saw the comical attributes of

e about the usual time of their summer migration, and Robert was advising his mother to go to the Isle of Arran. But Mrs. Campbell had resolved to go to Campbelton, where she had ma

"Mother," said Isabel dolorously, "Christina and I hate Campbelton! It smells of wh

ill," ventu

s, Christina, and it never made them ill.

othing to s

est antiquity, and was, as you ought to know, the capital

s antiquities, mothe

is the matter w

d of livin

you hear y

iving, Christina?" aske

, brother; that

do you

d that is the worst day of all. I don't blame you, brother, for a des

by a desperate e

feel that I would run away wit

shameful. What do you wis

ke to travel. I want to see Edinburgh and London and Paris like other girls who

he girls to Edinburgh and London? Paris is o

am going to Campbelton. I suppos

w better

ves, and some kinds of Scotch girls are beginni

she said: "We might have a co

the world with any strange woman. Robert, I think you h

hink an entire change of people and surroundings wo

iful; too many are

received. But when he rose from the table, Christina touched his arm as he passed her chair. "Thank you,

nd her weary, plaintive voice touched his

not stint you in expenses. Give the g

us, Robert, furnishing, travelling and what

mother's remark, but he looked at Isabel, and she understood the

ard," she said, "that Mrs. Walter Galbraith was going to Fra

een with two old maids in plain brown merino suits. We should look like her servants. Even if we got stylish travelling gowns, we should want dinner dresses, and opera dress

ls and on the firm sands of Macrihanish Bay have a five miles' unbro

ton, the schoolmaster, James Rathey, was constantly with her. He was in love, and Christina liked

have told me

oor girl, he was the on

his summer. I have influence enough to get him dismi

I am sorry I told you." And Isabel felt the cas

other is not to be moved, Christina," she

ockpen' worth listening to. He promised to buy a wheel before I came again, and then we will away to Macriha

hey last year, and Aunt Laird would have told mother, but I begged her

you will t

deci

l be an ill-n

they did not intend to take with them. "The paperers and painters are coming into the house to-mo

, one for church, and a white one that will be easily laundered. I suppose hats, gloves, shoes, and some other things

observed Christina as they we

ugh anything, Chr

of the liberalities t

way or another, she ha

Theo

If Theodora has been a schoolmistres

s-perhaps. Mothe

h counting. Women, old and

aperers and painters

o tell the truth. You know how often she de

was that

cise and question what yo

oat, and Isabel's pathetic acceptance of what she disliked, and the tears in Christina's eyes made him a little unhappy. He slipped some gold into their hands, as he bid them good-bye, and their silent looks of pleasure at his remembrance, soothed the uncertain sense of some unkindne

was generally known he was in love, and all the world loves a lover. No one was cruel or malicious enough to warn, or advise, or shadow the glory of his expectations by any doubt of their full accomplishment. The

ll be at her mercy,

quair Campbells' ways will be dark to a stranger

prudence. Her husband was a useless body, but she managed him fi

if you take King Solomon's ideas of a comfortable wife to live wi'. The wome

se excellencies, even to his chief friend Archie St. Claire. He had a feeling that intellect and learning were masculine attributes, and he preferred to dwell entirely on the sweet feminine virtues of his beloved. But this

and they sung, and swung, and shone in his heart, and made his life a fairy story. "I never knew what it was to be happy before," he said repeatedly; and it

astonishing; and Isabel and Christina wore their usual air of placid indifference to everything. They were all desirous to know what had been done in the house, but he refused to enter

asked Christina, and he answered with a

home she will give us a

d entertainments, and she will wish you to share th

hall

doubt wh

ever come tr

ll make them

and Isabel looked at her mother's

d he asked pleasantly: "What kind

joyed them very much; she had not seen some of her fourth and fifth cousins for nearly seven years; they had increased in number considerably during that interval, and their names, and dispositions,

s coming winter I intend to see y

have outlived the desire for amusements. I would rather travel,

can be managed. I am so happy, Isabe

must be an amazing thing, Christina, to change any one the way it has changed Robert Campbell. The man has been in a sense c

love.' I have often wond

the Latin names of its structure, its beauty was gone. The rose was explained to us, but it wasn't a rose any longer. God is Love. We will thank St. John for telling us that beautiful tr

ap

s rather good-looking before he was in love, he is now a very

re pains wit

lps, of

very good

eyes. Properly dressed you would n

because you lov

together. I do not mean afflictions and big troubles, but a lifelong, never-

go to the Kirk, and we had our Bi

fort. There was no l

ought to have stood up for our rig

blame, who kno

s and contradictory directions of Mrs. Campbell. She was carrying back to Glasgow two Skye terriers, a tortoise-shell cat, presents of kippered herring and cheeses, and, above all, a tiny marmoset monkey given her by a t

her whole family for the very purpose of making their entry into the renovated home a scene of confusion, in which it was impossible to observe things, she could not have succeeded better. Christina, indeed, uttered an exclamation of delight, but the great interest of all parties was to g

greeable temper, and when they had eaten it, there was still light enough to examine the changes that had been made. Mrs. Campbell declared she was tired, but she could not resist the offer

mpaled beetles and crucified butterflies had stood, there were pots of ferns and flowers, and the special furniture necessary was of light woods and modern designs. All the rooms leading from this hall were richly and elegantly furnished; the same idea

em to fit a lady's toilet perfectly, with all that ladies use and desire. Theodora may not like the p

for a queen, and many a poor queen never had anything half so splendid and comfortable. Theodora

the guest of his daughter, and in their mansion the rooms are much handsomer than anything we have here. Theodora has been

can not, and I will not, change my ways at my time of life. I may be

is the fruit and flower of a later one, different, but no better than your own. You are everything I want. I would not hav

been redecorated, a new light carpet laid, and many beautiful pieces of furniture added to brighten its usual gloom. Nor had Isabel's and Christina's rooms been forgotten; in many ways they had been beautified, and only the family dining-room had been left in the gloom of its dark, though handsome furniture. But Robert hoped b

rounded by the same depressing furniture and upholstery for thirty-seven years, and she had almost a childish pleasure in the new white lace curtains which had been hung in her rooms. They gave her a sense of youth, of something unusually happy and hopeful. Many times in a day, she went, unknown to any one, into the drawing

arried, and about a week afterwards, Archie S

, "and I thought you would like to hear abo

easons for not going,"

obert's

little about his arrangements.

ed and sweet-tempered, and loved by all wh

dressed?" a

city of the gown. I heard some one call it a Princess shape. It fit her beau

nsense!" ejacula

s with diam

ckles mor

er veil fell backward and tou

as it? I thought brides wore

She looked like an angel. She wore no jewels, and she carried in

ere many

flowers before her as she walked from the church gates to the altar; and the old rector who had married her fathe

s bride. Surely you are

after the bridal ceremony if the minister is a

ther did not

not have performed the cer

e was not married in

one of the most beautiful places of wor

iscopal church, at the very horns of an Episc

ce I ever saw. And the sweet old bells ch

dding breakfast

life together. I have brought you some bride cake," and he took from a box in his hand three smaller white boxes, tied with white ribbon, and p

. Claire, "and the Blue Coat Boys met the bride singing a we

he did. The

eft Kendal must have been the church bel

went? Robert was not sur

d St. Andrews to Wick, and so to the Orkneys and Shetlands. But it was late in the seas

rse. All the f

Scotland is a bleak

a man's home, it may do to hon

a man naturally wants to spend it as nearly in Paradise as possible. There's no place like the

ered highly interesting, he felt a little offended, and rose to depart. But ere he reached the p

by all means," sa

n-by-the-by, wonderfully beautiful spots, nothing like them in Scotland-and one day while waiting in

augh that terminated in something like a shriek. Isabel laid

St. Claire, astonished. I need not have been. Eve

Mrs. Campb

es

learned and interesting study

e words were scoffed o

the names in the Bible and ancient history in the same way. The preacher was very modest about it, but said it was now in all the best schools, and that his daughter had

, I da

, of Socia

s only a master of iron workers and coal miners, and I fear he will feel painfully his inferiority to such a ma

r. I should be afraid of her myself. I am thankful my mother isn't the least like her! My mother is made of love and sweet-temper, and she is more of a lady in her winsey skirt and linen short gown than Mrs. Traquair Campbell is in all her silk and lace and jewelry. Thank God for His mercies! The Book says a good w

il she heard the closing of the front door, then she asked: "What do you say to Mr. St

hat grace. Theodora may be a beauty, a school-teacher

ade Robert

ou before, the bit-by-bitness can soon change that opinion-a little mustard seed of suspicion or difference of any kind, can grow to

stina, "and it is small comfort to

was that drove your brother David beyond seas, and I have not heard a word from him since he went away one day in a passion. But this o

many points in her fa

of women, a writer of books, and no doubt she will try to set up the golden image of her manifold perfec

I, mo

" added

Chalmer's last sermons, and I'll take a few words from him to settle my mind and put me to sleep; for I am fairly distracted with the prospect of such a m

el being the eldest had the largest and the best furnished room. Isabel made a social event of it, by placing a little table between them, set with the special dainties she kept for her private re

re right. The next one will be the home-coming, and I dare say

raphing Jepson from every station on the road. The most trivial t

e good things. They sweete

r tell what the unknown may turn out to be. Mother is i

re out, she would se

ir House. She does not trouble herself ab

rother David to-nigh

es

I have heard her mentio

o me, three or four time

know whe

N

mother

N

any on

myself. He would have written to Robert i

ard why he went, for when I came home I was fo

such a thing. He was the mos

he go away?

now all a

l never name the subjec

done-married a girl no

irl? Why was s

Symington. She was a

she p

good and sweet as

, and a minister's daughter!

on

she p

ugh she was a minister's daughter, mother had always sent her to the servants' table, and she was nearly mad to think David had married a girl from the servants' table

id fath

s never the same after David left. We always believed that father knew where he went, and that he heard from him, through Mr. Oliphant or Dr. Robertson. But mother could get no words from him about David, except 'The boy did right. God pity the man whose wife

your confidence. Do not doubt it. I do not blame David. I

d-ni

run away