A Reconstructed Marriage

, differing only in the intensity with which they held them. Mrs. Campbell and her son Robert were the most positive, Isabel was but little behind them, and Christina was

ould have borne opposition and unkindness better if there had been more variety

mployments were quite as uniform. There were even certain menus for every day's dinner in the week, and these were repeated with little or no change year in and year out. For Mrs. Campbell hated the unexpected; she tried to order her life so that there s

y any explanations. And she soon made many acquaintances, and a few sincere friends. Among the latter were Dr. Robertson and his wife, and Mrs. Oliphant, the American. The former had called on Theodora about ten days after her home-coming and

iano is my great friend and companion. It fe

endelssohn can get very

cause the minister to look at his wife in wonder as her magnificent voice lifted t

a dove, then would I fl

ion, and the music was as if her guardian angel joined her in it. The doctor was ent

she said, "you have gon

quisite little service, and gave the company tea and cake and swe

ained to her son, "and Dora kept them all of two hours-such ignorance of social cust

have joined

asked to do so, but

his wife: "Why did you not send f

r she makes a point of refusing, often very rudely, and

r rude to? It

t for one, and t

approve of M

son. I like them very much. The doctor was very happy, and

is Irish, and the Irish must exagger

e good of loving people, if you do not tell th

be fooli

t fooli

es

rgotten the time, when you continually told me

rt, and said: "I do love you, Dora. Yes, I do love you!" And then she grew radian

ting alone they began to talk of Theodora. "She has a g

will get in return. Like ivy on a stone wall, she will obtain only a rigid and nigg

woman will stand level with her husband, or not stand

already. There were tears

rouble? Certainly. How can she live with thos

questions, is not 'how' or 'why' or even 'I wish' or 'I will.' It is I mus

rive till she is weary, and then she must leave him-or

od-a believer in G

stand the ill-natured nagging of those wom

ten bites the tongue, b

s a hard road for

us. Faith treads on the void, and finds the rock benea

church, say, while the Elders went round with the collection boxes, it would do a deal of good. It would touc

but I should have to ask

not own h

But if she could touch every heart as she touch

could. Ask Ro

wil

is Kirk than a Catholic in Rome can afford to quarrel with the Pope in Rome. Also, he had a great respect for Dr. Robertson, and when he was told of the s

he actually felt what he assumed. Nor did he see that in giving her voice to benefit the church he was thinking solely of the church as a religious society, and the souls composing it were never for a moment in his calculation. Both of these

o his mother, and to Theodora he only spoke of the

ce he would probably cancel his concession. She permitted him to think she was willing to oblige the doctor, because he wished it, and t

dora return until after ten o'clock. At that hour Mrs. Campbell sent for her son to discuss Do

ra is dining with the Robertsons. I was i

I nor your sisters were invited. I

d I dare say have invited some of the congregation to meet her. Wh

you to f

rling," she was saying, "I can hardly wait for Sunday. O, how are you, Mr. Campbell? You ought to have b

o keep at her side, Campbell. Every man

sion for the Sunday singing wavered in the balance. But the danger passed in his critici

nday arrived, she went quietly out of the house while the rest were dressing, and at the last moment Robert joined his family, saying: "I will go to church with you this morning, mother." He gave no reason for

heard her, but she did not, or at least only in a vague and uncertain manner. She wished Theodora had been present, that she might learn her deficiencies, and she wondered that two people should have voices so similar; but she reflected, that her o

ngregation. Some wept silently, some bowed their heads, and a few stood and looked upward, while the soft, rolling notes of the organ died away in the benediction. Very quietly and speechlessly the congregation dispersed. All went home with the

ny people pretend to sing who know nothing about it and have no voice

like Dora's voice

ng is a finely trained voice-I mean, as voices are trained for oratorio and

n drifted to the sermon from the same psalm. "It was a good serm

he sermon to-da

ter, the song was

to sing it very well," said Christina; and Theodora smiled and

uld not have the memory of this morn

added Isabel. "Wo

of Robert at that hour and h

as long as I live." He looked at Theodora, and if any there had had

t, Dora," he said, "but this morning you touched my soul." And they were very happy together. This was the man Theodora love

at her self-respect or violated her conscience. For she had constant opportunities of seeing that the spirit of submission carried too far was responsible for most of the misery and wrongs of the household; since despotism is never the sin of one, but comes from the servility of those around the despot. And as Robert was not always indifferen

e never came

er life was

ouse, where

ster to pri

she endur

act, whose r

ned not; co

ld last-not

om first to

es of her l

time-worn

in an undoub

retty appetizing table on the cheerful hearth, drank his coffee and ate a rasher of bacon beside her. Then how gay and delighted she was, and as on such occasions he gave up his porridge and salt herring, McNab,

he piano. "I know practising from music," she said in every note, "and I do not like practising." Only Christina being present at the practising interfered with the message, and many times it had been sent when it was the caller who was doing the practising. The order was always obeyed,

" said Mrs. Campbell, "what dre

ad. She had no business to sh

ish; what can

pany," said Christina, "then she would be a

fice myself for my children, and you pro

play and sing. Dora has been k

hings I consult my children's ple

had taken both of the sisters out with her, dressed them for entertainments, shown them how to dress themselves, and taught them those little tricks of the toilet, which are to women at once so innocent and so indispensable. Many times these services had been rendered cheerfully when she was sick or depressed, but neither of the girls had any concep

at wrong and annoyance to us. If she does teach Christina music and singing and French, and entertain you both now and then, it is her boun

her fine spirits and hopeful temper made her gay as a bird in spring. Her enthusiasms were incomprehensible to the three women, they were even repulsive; for neither the selfish, ill-temper

daily life. So he allowed the noblest and tenderest symbols of love to die of cruel neglect, and his occasional breakfasts with Theodora were the only remnant of his once passionate personal love. He was

ad no business to be in the same house. They got in each other's way and provoked friction. And though physical crowding is bad, spiritual crowding is much worse. Theodora had been well awar

she afraid. She had always won her way triumphantly. She believed in God, she believed in herself, and she believed in humanity. The calibre of a

ng at the window of her room looking over the lovely scene. All Nature was calm as a resting wheel, the sky full of stars; all the mystery and majesty of earth, the lake, the woods, the

able?"

swered softly

ht will

all w

h as b

nd she felt strangely

own wisdom will not believe. Then it can only learn its life's lesson by tho

d thought of that prophecy since her marriage, when

n against me wit

th words of hatred, and fou

es, and they have rewarded me evil

fter a morning of petty slights, and unkind words, when Robert entered

Robert, so glad! I did n

s going to preach from the first verse of the fourteenth of Job: 'Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.' He says

g that I should

uld like yo

Job's triumphant confession, '

u sung it once in Sheffield

about my singing, 'O that

new she would feel it much. As soon as you have settled the

offended because she was neither personally visited by him, nor yet invited by Theodora to meet him in her parlor. The lunch table was made a

ill," said

e not, Isabel?" Isabel sighed deeply, and Christina absently nodded assent. She was countin

and assisted her to her own apartments. On his return he was confronted by the an

Jepson? I hired you to wait on

Campbell looked

think. And I am Mrs. Campbell, the ot

, ma

k, desolate land, and after a little sobbing cry, went upstairs to try and dress for dinner. A depressing anxiety, a horror of the great darkness from which she had

scent, and directed her attention to it. "Dora has been dress

thing the mat

own. Why not go and question Dora about the minister's vis

e. I will make th

in her hands and the open pages of the book below her heavy eyes

ur impromptu attack,

than I did a

ertson call on y

n business-n

usual, I

not name

at did h

busin

was his

t tell y

t up before me, about the doctor's business. You! You, indeed! Have you argu

devil. 'Get thee behin

d your pretensions. I suppose the

ul is

n impertin

nent-and I do not deserve such

! You are not reading. Lift

d rathe

es dropped? Do you think yourself beautiful

entor. They were pleading and reproachful, and full of tears.

ow the minist

ell Rober

et me tell you, Robert would rather you never spoke to him! He wishes yo

I have not deserved such abuse." Once more she dropped her eyes on her

ook and listen

was no

me? Give me

gic frenzy of passion Mrs. Campbell seized the

it lay with its pages crumpled against the floor, and in th

McNab and Jepson, and

e across the room!

et the dress of the poor lady slack

you say s

t stand there like

. Campbell in passionate tones. "I will not have

l put it into your heart and hand to do the like o' that unforgiveable sin? I'm feared to be

tened out its leaves, and laid it on the table. "I did not know it was the Bible,

cting and regretting now. Come here and help

n angel sin. I am innocent, perfectly innocent

Nab scornfully. "Maybe He'll forget you, if

u notice to leave

woman, not yours, thank God! and I am not feared to speak the Holy Name, as you may well be. Here's the doctor-thank Go

tay just w

ur woman; yo

th, and barely glancing at Mrs. Campbell he knelt down beside the sick woman. In a few moments he rose,

r," said Mrs. Campbell. "It i

d be off at once. Don't wa

cto

have no time to think of dinners. I fear

ress brought down here, and I shall want two men to c

men. I'll step over to the hotel

will

aordinary arrangements to make

pbell. I have a very

our orders to me.

dinner is ready, you had better eat i

. Will you remembe

's house, and this lady, I take it, i

more's the pity, more's th

man?" As he spoke he rose, and with an angry face and long strides walked

der, and she perforce obeyed it; but when she reached the din

ave been insulted shamefully. Oh, Isabe

r. Ducie says she has hurt her brain

concussio

one never knows, and

ir business roused Mrs. Campbell and her daughters to a pitch of distraction, only to be relieved by motion and loud talking. Walking up and down the room, and striking

ter, Jepson?" he ask

you, sir. I fear my yo

utmost disorder, the windows open and the rooms empty. He rushed up

is my wife? W

ell heavily, and has, I fear, s

what reason

tell you. I w

t see my w

e it safe to leave her. I have sent for a c

r-there is no

e another lapse o

self by grasping the baluster, and th

happen, Duci

and the tones in which the conversation had taken place, and the inability of her mistress to answer the last two questions-the snatching of

al, but at her last remark he started as if shocked

the truth.

and as soon as it is possible tell her I

and suddenly when he entered the dining-room, for his face, and his intentiona

he had frozen every one dumb, he look

m amazed at

and all the picturesque idioms she fell naturally into when under great emotion. Her son listened to her as he had listened to D

oncerning Dr. Robertson's v

know why he called, and

t had been kept from you. I will tell you now. He wished Theodora to sing a

to select the music,

She chose 'I know tha

e at the dinner table. "Order dinner

mbled and her eyes filled with tears-a most extraordinary exhibition of feeling in

hard day. The men at the works are quarrelling and goin

from strangers, but when my son connives with his English wife to deceive me and

r own house a

s ren

room to see him. "Your wife has fallen asleep," he said, "and, Campbell, you must see to it that she is not awakened for a

gar, and placed a chair for her. She had now assumed the only temper likely to i

it was only me, I would not care. Are you going to turn me

od has told me to leave father an

very

nd she will not i

nd Christ

and helpful to my sisters. She woul

ing in th

e were silent about it, out of kindn

d you advis

dvise you t

fe if she is going to faint ev

and Ducie, and I know what the doctor thinks of it. Allow me to say your conduct

o provoking, you d

ed you to make the Bible the missile of your t

know it was

o form, no shape no color, can hide the Bible. There is a kind of

as long as I live, Robert. Sh

he did

hour of the day? If it had been morning

ds the Bible

thing like a

fe. I love her. Sh

r sisters no l

y mother and my sisters. You

eadalbane, or Laudon, we are a' Campbells. We a' wear the wild myrtle and we hae a' the same battle-cry, 'Wild Cruachan!' and we a' hae hated and loved th

r. That claim inc

or being a Cam

ad and proud

nd he clasped and held it firmly,

I must go to Dora now. We will d

went to her daughters with flashing eyes and a kindling

ut it's the great name! It unlocked his heart like a pass-key-

u always ma

humble pie she baked for me-I'll hae the better o' the English huzzy yet-I'll sort her, when I get the right time. I can do naething o' an extreme

a wonderful woman

iscreet woman,

glass with wine, lifted it upwards, and nodding t

e Campbells!

eadalbanes, and Cawdors, and Loudons. He was a Campbell, and all the glory of the large and powerful family was his glory. At that moment he heard the dirl of the bagpipes and felt the rough bea

he could not be much blamed, for all is race. There