A Reconstructed Marriage

she could well imagine the triumphant mockery of her mother-in-law over her weakness and squeamishness. In the afternoon she asked for the carriage, as she wished to do so

mother," she said. "Can

ra answered: "I shall be obliged if you will. I have some s

opping. I like to shop; Isabel hates it. She says the shopmen a

r a good quali

people-shopmen and the like-it

af

wait on you, why should you c

y. Shall w

What will y

table-cloths, napkins, etc. W

is perfectly lovely to be with you, and without mother an

I might s

I believe I am going to

pping was finished, they went into McLeod's confectionery and had ices and cakes, lemonade and caramels. For once in her life, Christina had felt herself to be well-i

as they parted. "Thank you for taking me with

We went here and there, and bought linen of all kinds, and wine and cakes, and then we went to the large

ou lik

the shopmen fell over each other to wait on he

ly think her

raquair Campbells think. She is rather saucy, but

e saucy

es

did sh

bliged if I would tap at the

e i

was not so set against her. I know she

be adoring

but I intend to u

at

o dress-to lend me books and music, and take m

h favors from a person m

le-frowsy, vulgar things, all of them; and I do think it was a sh

eemed to think so also-that is, after m

same. He is more afraid of mother than we are. I

s opinion

I think Dora is a lovely woman, and good, and clev

high ideal for

raquair Campbell-or a Ja

t have ple

gave her the whites of your e

at she is our mother, and that the

abel, that command is a gey hard

bad, wise or foolish, they are to be honored. Dr. Robe

hat was Jenny McDonald's commentary on his sermon. I heard her say so, and I thought to myself 'Jenny McDonald, you are a

el with you about Dora. I can live

e regarding his wife's treatment, and resolved to make it up to her by his own attention. For he believed so firmly in himself, an

diant with welcoming smiles. He forgot to name her morning indisposition, but

ce to me, and we had a delightful time." Then she told him what she had bough

egun to give him a sense of poverty, and his naturally economical nature was shocked at their total. But if Theodora liked to buy more linen and furniture, and treat his sister and herself he

et. She had even wondered if the rich silk and lace, and pearls, were to blame for the unkindness of her reception; if so, she resolved not to err in that respect again. So she wore a light gray liberty silk gown of walking length, with a pretty white muslin waist, and an Eton jacket. A short sash of the same silk tied at

would astonish us. Did she imagine the Traquair Campbells could be snubbed by a silk dress and a string of pearls? And to-night she come

she wanted us to believe that she h

odist preacher's house, o

she was dressed very fine, we would like her better. Dress does make a deal o

ina. Your sister Isabel and I always

old welcome. I woul

getting yourself, Ch

el. What can you expect? I heard her tee-heeing

to come and spend the evening with Dora and himself. "Dora is going

said Isabel. "I prefer

other will

orldly music, and if I did, Chri

ted to come," said Christi

th your sister and

her, and taking her hand said: "You must humor me in this matter, dear mother. I want some of you with me, and I am sur

get any advantage for nothing, and especially fr

rtunities. One thing is sure, the woman ought to do something for the family, for goo

s sister, Mrs. Campbell said: "Open the parlor doo

Do you call that music? It is just skirling. I would rather hear Christina sing 'The Bush Aboon Traquair,' or 'The Lass o' Patie's Mill,' or a good rattling

ly enough now. I wonder what it is? R

sabel, and give me my Practice of Piety. Then you may leave

do not be

You are a good daughter, Isabe

er; you are alway

ttle melody and her voice was so charmful that Isabel could not tap at the door-as Christina had been instructed to do-until

were dre

ould y

t a pass

light

from Life'

rose le

were drea

nd sad

rier rang

ould y

es, as Robert told her, they wanted a game of whist so much, and she made it possible. "You shall be my partner," he added, "and we are sure to win." He was holding her hand as he spoke, and ere he ceased, he had led her to the table and got her a seat. Chr

a good time," whi

od game," an

think she

or

es

n plenty of

will ask us t

-night's visit. There is no need to say an

we came upstairs. No doubt she was watching and listeni

all concerned in it, and also make a point of repeating the fault in order to prove the propriety of her position. That would be giving Theodora too great an advantage.

tting on his overcoat and gloves, and thus to thank him for his invitation of the previous evening. "I never had such a

l to call on her, and go out with her; and I will remember you at

ay in such a happy temper, that Jepson said as he took his place at the head of the kitchen breakfast table: "The mast

ractive, indeed! She's charming, she's captivating, she's enchanting, she's bewitching; and if she was only Highland Scotch, she would soon be te

ing of the mi

And if it isna lawfu' to talk o' Mistress Traquair Campbell, there's no law forbidding me to talk o' them Lairds and Crawfords. If they ev

, McNab, ought to have a

them yours

Lairds both are t

dsome o' mortals. I c

ter

nd the palms o' their greedy hands at the like o' you and me, but there isna a lad

pence when they went awa,"

night, and the girl-a civil spoken creature-says: 'Mrs. McNab, my mistress would like her coffee and rolls in her own parlor, and there will be due you half-a-crown a week for your trouble, and thank you.' That's the way a la

le goes no further, Mrs.

glish speech, she plunged into Gaelic. It was her sure and unconquered resort, for no one could answer unpronounc

by more rain, and Robert seemed to take a kind of pride in its abundanc

d always brin

d wet and co

nd surely br

nd blows it

size her up the first Sabbath she appeared, she resolved to put off the ordeal. The pleasure of being quite alone for a few hours was a temptation,

yet all her trials had come from some trivial circumstance of daily life. She had been embarrassed by such sm

advances, but she knew that in the trials of domestic life all plans must come at last to the give and take, bear and forbear theory. So after some reflection, she said softly to herself: "These women are the samples of humanity given me with my husband, an

ontinued, "and I must try and find it." So she roused herself from the recumbent position she had taken. "Stand up on thy feet,

e thee that name will comfort thee." With a joyf

he glorious promise inspired her at once with strength and joy; she felt her soul singin

rd, let us heartily rejoice in

h. Chap.

You'll be having the police in, and the de'il to pay all round, disturbing the Sunda

, McNab. Is there any

isna a thing fit to be done in your ain parlor on the Sunday.

is

' the blessed Virgin itsel' and folk heard you, there would be no end o' the matter. Y

ing me. I have not learned

e them their ways, and stick to your ain. You can do that, McNab does. They are easy satisfied if it suits their convenience. Every soul in this ho

not keep you from chu

lops, to prevent me going to my ain church. God save u

are a Ca

a Catholic! Did you eve

heard o

s them, they are vera good. I shall put a

nk y

h the morn. I'm sure it is a t

g was still in her heart, and she sang it with her soul joyfully, as she put on one of her most cheerful and beautiful costumes

y as if they had been to hear a Gospel that was bad news, instead of good news, s

h over-dressed fo

and I dressed in

have gone to chur

made a diversion: "What did you th

very stron

preacher?"

of Stirling,

Robertson would have approved the s

nted present felt its weighty solemnity." She muttered, twice over, its awful te

ring to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.' That is what Saint Peter says,

do not apply to

kine, said, we are lost here as much as there,

son, and Robert said: "My dear Dora, you argue li

I search and understand them, but I do not often

fath

Those who can believe God has any pleasure

ish sinners,"

s easily; and it would be far more in ac

by young women, I shall retire," said Robert

ert. You have

y fine to-day, mother

appear to notice her. When they were in their parlor he said: "You

something w

other's statements, it would be mo

kept silence, but I must always testify in any company

challe

heart, and he says 'Jesus Christ is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, bu

like a wo

only quoting what the gr

elf in with God. Her eyes were full of unshed tears, as she turned the key, for she felt that something in her life had lost its foothold. Was it her faith? Oh, no! She trusted God implicitly. She could not think any ill of Him, she had loved Him from her

the Campbells in their own image and likeness. Robert had loved and married Theodora Newton; was she to change her character with her name? She had made no such promise, and, without the s

as well as to others. And as nothing can be done in the heart by halves, it would be no fitful or uncertain struggle. The whole soul, the whole heart, the whole mind, the whol

ll not fight alone. God and

g, and her own peaceful, loving home, and thought that if trouble was necessary for her higher

Captain b

ours to m

es us sword

oo the ba

hatred, and apparently dying love, for her battlefield, it was

the bat

er also swor