A Reconstructed Marriage

Theodora was subjected to an unwearying hostility, always finding fresh reasons for complaint and injustice. And it was a cruel symptom of this intentional malice, that it took as its us

answer his aunts if they spoke to him; and if she herself but came near him, he ran away and hid himself in his mother's arms. He was also shockingly fond of low company. He could not be

p him out of the kitche

ow to care for himself-you did so before you were his age. And really, Robert, keeping a maid for Dora is a most unnecessary expense; it also makes a great deal of tr

And the girl is not only a nurs

hambermaid c

the first thing

rooms ought to be att

in order early, and I am wi

ound, she cleaned her own r

stead of me, he would have given her

born idiot. You cannot persuade me, that two men in the world wanted to m

ries of the household. And Robert soon began to enjoy this visit, and the tale-bearing suspicions and arguments that enlivened it. It pleased him to feel that he knew all that was going on in the house, and he also liked to know whether Theodora had been out

ing process all domestic happiness crumbles inwardly away. Thus Robert grew indifferent to the woman he so pitilessly analyzed, and fell gradually into the godle

divorce could have more effectually separated them than did this moral divorce, in which there was neither disputing nor forgiveness. But though Theodora consented to this evil condi

ad, and when urged too fiercely, walked her lonely room with God, and dared to tell Him all the sorrow in her heart. Her disappointment had been dr

ized by the law, and they were screened from the world by the closed doors of domestic life. So she had bowed both her heart and her head, and was dumb to every one but her Make

her intellectual faculties, Theodora had educated that bent to perfection. The correct technique of the piano was already known to Christina, but Theodora directed it into its proper channel of expression, and showed her how to put a soul into her playing and singing. She found fo

in the special set the Traquair Campbells affected-the rich religious set-and her definite and agreeable accomplishments caused her to be eagerly sought for every entertainment in that set. She had begun to have admirers, flowers were sent to her and gentlemen called upon her, and she received invit

ny as five and six callers every day; she has been named in the papers as 'the lovely and accomplished Miss Christina Campbell'; she has numerous lovers to

as made Christina all she is.

two, here and there, but the gifts were Christina's, and the lassie's ain patient wark has brought them to their perfection. That's a

nse not to overlook the baro

ning Sir Th

money would be a great thing for us. I intend to bring him here to dinner to-morrow.

ave the particular fact of his coming here to dinner. Little you know o' women,

a special providence for the Campbells. He has one hundred thousand pounds to invest, and I

Thomas, hiding his hundred thousand talents-as it were-in a napkin. A bank is no better than a napkin; money is just folded away in it; and money is made round that it may roll. The Campbell works wil

manage it, m

ed so sure of success, that Robert found it difficult to refrain hims

ousehold discomfort: "I believe, girls, your brother is going to bring Sir T

gentleman, mother

d, and aul

ar from being old-fashioned. He is up t

ouldn't wonder if he has only the name o' riches. But, rich or poor, he is coming to dinne

swered Christina. "He is rich, and he is powerful in politics, and he has one of the finest castl

you say

a problem, perhaps it may be worth while to please him, pe

accidentals anent every affair, and they are beyont us

ng to take me o

en he makes his court bow and says, 'Good-night, ladies! I have had a perfectly delightsome evening.'" She boldly mimicked the baronet's

to be a person of no importance to them. As they were parting Isabel asked: "What will you wear to

, trimmed wit

aces; they are

y. Why should I alter it for a couple of hours to-night? I w

man's dinner Thursday, and Wynton is sure to be there. I don't want him

bon. Her really fine arms were bare from the elbows, her square-cut neck showed a beautifully white, firm throat, and the glow of the ribbons was over her neck and arms, and touched the

ou to charm Sir Thomas Wynton for me," he added. "It is desirable

er face asked in a whisper: "What will yo

pounds," he

e and with both hands extended. She sat at his side during dinner and kept him laughing, and when she left the dining-room ordered him with a p

s Robert and Sir Thomas entered the room she was playing with lively, racy spirit, the prelude to the inimitably humorous song of "Th

ckpen he's proud

p wi' the things o

er than the song. Where had all these charming coquetries, this mirth and melody been hidden in the old Christina? This was not the Christina she had known all her life. "It is Theodora's doing," she thought, "an

of Auld Scotland." She told her most amusing stories, and finally induced Sir Thomas Wynton and her brother, mother, and sister to join her in the parting song of "Auld Lang Syne." Then, with eviden

five hundred po

h a laugh. Then he turned to his mother and said: "Who would hav

in the window. They hold a deal in reserve and there's none but the one man can ever

ope

ch a thing as

ll me that

ting with him. I'll give him a week to think things o'er, but the

, mother, but I think this evening

slow, inert movements of the Christina of a few years previous. At Theodora's bedroom door she paused irresolutely for a few moments

, Dora?" Chr

Have you had a p

t honors would have been easy, if not entirely in your hand. It was kind of you t

are looking unu

e went gaily away, timing her steps to the m

stress Jean, is

rther triumphs awaiting her. She would travel, she would be presented at many courts, she would entertain splendidly at Wynton Castle, she would be kind to Theodora, and patron

na Campbell been recognized as the future Lady Wynton. Then her world was at her feet, every one did her homage, and brought her presents, and praised her for having don

with her daughter on these shopping expeditions, and sometimes Isabel accompanied them, but soon the various demands of the coming event gave the elder ladies abundant cares, and Christina was permitted to manage her shopping and fitting as she thought best. So then she gained daily in self-assertion, and soon submitted to no dictation even from her brother. But Sir Thomas was a lover sure to make any woman authoritative, for he submitted glad

mming with pride and false humility, and expatiating on Sir Thomas Wynton's rank, wealth and power, his handsome person, and his deep devotion to h

he was weary to death, and wanted to sleep for a month. No one cared to cross her in the smallest matter, though her family devotion never deserted her. This f

xpected? You have paid me the five hundred pounds promised. I should

r en

gned the p

N

hy

t pressed

asier to get his signature bef

their word about money matters,

N

ou don't. You know

satisfied

fectly sa

d s

sitivel

ing manner, "if he had secured that signature

self anent my money

nton, I may find many other ways for the spen

nton, you will not cease to be Christina Campbell, and C

n his own. No further words were necessary. Robert knew assuredly that

l called her, and with a slight reluc

mother?" she asked, quickly ad

d this room prepared for your trunks. They ought to have been here y

nished, othe

ished had better be

: "None of my bride things are coming here, mother. When they

nton C

ey will be qui

your bride clothes sent to Wynton Castle, instead

dreadful Campbelton people. You said your bride things were treated in the same way. Very well, I am determined that n

l manner, and I command you to send your trunk

e already made excellent arra

minable. It is an outrage on

new dresses dirty, and spoil all they touched, and carry away with them neckwear and jewelry they had no

d all excuse, it is almost beyond all forgi

le will come to the marriage, and after Christina has gone, who will be able to restrain them? Not you. It is

! What do

and the use of her clothing was a shameful thing.

Christina Campbell, you are an ungrateful child, and you are cocking your head too high,

ming near Traquair House. I am as good as married, and I will

good girl ever sent her bridal clothes away, without letting

to Madame Bernard's rooms this morning. I have a

xamine them here

ortly. I am very sorry, mother, to disappoint you, but aft

h to see them

y we

ood obedient daughter; the change in you is the

no longer a nonentity. I have come into a human existence, and you are

ng the devil, for t

nd I have a great deal to do. Good-

footstep with you. Ho

ken from her. She confessed that she had spoken a little to many people of the rich and beautiful presents Christina had received, and now she would not be able to show one of them; and no one would believe what she had

er new home. I rather think some have gone there already, for two weeks

ish girl? So wrong! So wicked! So ungrateful! You know, Isabel, I gave her five hundred po

her things here, they would certainly have been shown and handled-they might have been ill-used as Do

onized like Christina. Do you also hope to beco

have no hopes left for myself. It is too

fault i

nursing the sick, when I ought to h

e wrongs of Destiny. She sat dourly still and silent, the very image of resentful disappointment. The silence was indeed so profound, that one c

of hopeless defeat was pathetic, and her silent, motionless endurance of it, touched Isabel's heart

ing her fineries in her grand new home. That will be f

m. I wanted to show them. People will ne

ey will send some youngster here to item them, and you can give him a sovereign, and a glass of wine, and then y

Isabel. I'm glad

spaper notice. He'll pay the

an extraordinar'

r the wedding cake this morning. Ther

's untelling what I have done for Christina, and the upsetting ways o' her this morning and the words she said, I'll never forget. I sh

er flatly your last though

wil

e. It is important, and there's

h and pink and white powder; the son simply takes her as she looks and thinks "what a lovely mother I have!" The daughter has watched her mother's little schemes for happy household management, and probably helped her in them; the son knows only their completed comfort and their personal pleasure. He never dreams of any policy or management in his mother's words and deeds, and hence he believes in her just as he sees and hears her. And her wisdom and lov

sing to go out. "I have an appointment at eleven, Isabel," she said, "and I am so glad you have come to sit beside me while I dre

back to your own home

then I would come. I have just been going through my top drawer, Isabel; it was

rgotten you-they were mostly school

t was really piteous to see the trash a woman of my age thought worth preserving. I sent

your new home? No single thing that

ets represented my existence until Dora came. It was just as useless and unsatisfying

ou say 'p

She is much changed. Robert is not kind to her, and he ought to be ashame

is much in l

the sofa the evenings he is with her-and he used to feel as if the day was not long enough

t think

d bett

ot even think of such contingenc

, why

their teeth if they cannot bite, and they canno

are other

. What a pretty suit! Are y

s a lovely spring morning. I heard th

e wedding cake-you ought to

you. All my life long you have been my comfort,

tina. I shall miss you

y clasped hands and walked downstairs together, and so to the front door, which Jepson opened as Christina approached it. For a few moments Isabel stood there a

red a cake twice the ordinary size," she said, "and the small boxes, and the narrow white ribbon, in which to send friends not present at the cerem

ght, m

d at Dalmeny's to examine it. The lace is particularly effective,

diamonds. He has set his heart on Christi

nion, ought to be dressed with great simplicity. I was.

ut a woman in the prime of life, like Christina, can wear diamond

one, the Wynton baronage will be in a state of perfect beggary, before the end of their lives. I was just telling Mrs. Malcolm that I verily believed the sum-

t boast so much about Sir Thomas. He is not any kind of a m

as it were. I am going to be thankful for them and speak well of them to all and sundry. I am going to rejoice day and night over

a new spring suit on to-day. She l

o' myself, when I was about her age. And he remembered me ever since we were in the dancin

er. It is very nice of the

was my way-or gift-a kind of power I had. People who once know

eems very ha

o, yet I am glad he has withdrawn himself to-night, for I am fairly fagged out with fine dinners, and I shall tell McNab

a may not

fearing Christina. I wish you would

obert t

ss, and it would be just like he

thing against

tainly there is. We do not want an

Tell him so to-night. You had better take a s

even. What time will

d not t

was she

being with Marion to-day, and of the necessity

tie

f bride-

se! But she will b

y come back with her. If so,

odies is o'er young to be in the fashions yet awhile. I will be down at seven, and meanwhile you

the day before the marriage. She

other soul. That is the because of her ill-natured conduct. See that dinner is ready punctual. Your brother was

and not inclined to conversation. The old lady wondered, as she slowly climbed the stairs, "What the young people of this generation were