A Reconstructed Marriage

nor Christina was present, and she wondered a little, but asked no questions. In a few moments Theodora took her place, and without remark

t? Is he not re

suppose he is not

did he re

s always sleepy. I fear he is ill, a hea

at all hours, and in any place-a four-inch-wide plank would suffice them for a sofa

odora, in a tone of

it was a great gift, and

vid will not inherit

ampbell family about the b

, and her expression of satisfaction was annoying to both I

. I think this family trait is

wake and suffer, than sink into animal unconsciousness half my life. Robert has slept, or

dream. My children go to bed for the purpose of sleeping. Dream indeed

l is comforted by dreaming, instructed and warned by dreaming. I should fee

sagreeable, and her way of doing so, was not only to ignore Theodora's topic, but also to introduce a subject which she con

es, and Mrs. Campbell said, "In that case sh

she forgets. We must make s

sabel. I expe

or any one but Jepson, whom he ordered to remove the broth. "The house smells of it," he said with an air of disgust. He ate what dinner he took without speaking, an

soon as the three Campbells were alone. He said he was worn out with the expense and rioting anent Christina's marriage. It had been fine dinners, and suppers, and fooleries of all kinds for weeks, and more weeks, and money wasting

was not in a mood to talk them away. "I am so depressed, mother," she complained. "I hardly know what I am saying. I feel as if I had a great sorrow. The roo

to their whisperings, and whatever sights are under your eye-balls, deny them vision. You must, you must! For, as your grandfather

ou the truth. I am unh

am

. She would, had it been possible. O

did. Have you

told Jepson at once, and Jepson heard our conversation ab

do you

. That is what frigh

ery nervous. She left home

in better health,

Allison's till near midnight, without sending us any

d her never to do

ands very particularly of late. T

If I knew she was well and safe, I should be glad she was not here, for this is an u

red. It is all her fault, an

ently suf

erves to

r Scot. He must be

you

nt at the summons and the delay it would cause him. He was rather glad the ladies w

stina first of all this morni

et. She bought a posy of daffy-down-dil

re n

dame cam' to the doorstep wi' her, and bid Miss Christina good-

he

r o'clock. I asked where I was to come, and she laughed pleasantly and said, 'Come

ailie Brodie's a

t same thi

el

So I drove home again, and at half after five I went to the train for Mr. Camp

any one speak to

on

the right wa

est way-up Sauc

ill do,

r's faces. Mrs. Campbell then turned to the clock and said, "It is on the stro

us indifference. "It is like you women," he said, "you always make a mountain out of a molehill. If any one of the women in

she said she was going to the

she was

Brodie ser

at particular servant with her visit. I have no doubt Marion Brodie and Chri

it is very likely they went to Netta Ga

their parts. I hope we shall have no more marriages in the family, th

l, for she looked almost distracted, and on the point of vision. "And I will not have it," she whispered to herself, "no, I will

thought, and Isabel stayed her rapid w

ear case of the circumstance," and she explained his supposition concer

. "That is not it," s

ed us to

urns, or Robert does something

o you

Mother, something extr

are not se

g' is past-but it

e! Oh, Isabel-if anything should happen to p

ar

wonder of it! The m

sfortune? Robert says all is right. Yo

n he is in the right mood, but to-night he

hension of it away with a stamp of his foot. He was equally unsuccessful wherever he called. No one had seen Christina that day, and he finally went home puzzled, and even anxious, but sure that her unaccountable absence was the result of some misunderstanding that would be cleared up when morning came. He insisted on the family retiring, but told Jepson to leave the gas burning, and be ready to open the door if called upon to do so. Then he also went upstairs, but sleep was far from him. Theodora appeared to be asleep, but though her

ng down by a table he held his head in his hands, and thought of them, and of Christina's

ed. Jepson was sorting the mail as Isabel came downsta

ss. Here is a let

t eagerly, and ran back to her own room with it. Trem

ar Si

happy in all my life, and I want to be happy, and I shall be happy with Jamie. I have sent all the gifts Sir Thomas gave me back, and written him a letter. He will forgive me, and I know you will. Mother will forbid you to mention me, and she will never forgive. I know Robert will feel hurt, but he has no cause. I begged him to secure the fish that was on the hook for him, and he would not. I thought all well over, and I did not see

tina

heart, "I am glad, I am glad! You did right, Christina! Yes, you did!

were at the table, and evidently not on agreeable terms. "Jepson thought you had a letter fr

better, to see first

an you n

the letter into

to death. With frantic passion Mrs. Campbell threw the letter at her son, an

! Do be quiet!"

l die of shame! I shall di

e, and Isabel rushed to the grate and rescued it, though it was smoked, and browned, and mostly illegible. But she clasped

crazy too?" cal

alone!" s

t is the matt

of the way you

u must be ashamed. Her disgra

of your own doing,

e blame, of cour

nd when she got the opportunity she

l the happi

, but none of these things made happiness for your daughters. They wanted the pleasures of youth-gay compan

you not help t

our daughters to Edinburgh and London, and offer

to go to Edinb

h they hated the place. There Christina met this low fellow whom she married. She had

ow dare you call my

nk I have forgotten how they treated

ringing up that

gotten it. For your cruelty at that time, you are

head to feet; as if her world was being swept away from her, and she could not protest against it. Isabel had left her in anger and opposition. Robert in reproach. As for Christina, she had smitte

omplete in its misery. Her first resolve was to go to Theodora, and have the circumstance "out" with her. But her limbs were as heavy as her heart, and when with difficulty she reached the door of the room, she heard her son talking to his

aret Campbell, there is to be no lying down. You be to keep on the defensive." But she rang for Jepson, and told him to tell Miss Campbell her mother wanted her

and with effort, and Isabel was terrified by her mother's face, for it was gray as ashes,

her. You ought

-a big glass-of

e strong wine. It is full of iron, and we require plenty of iron in our blood. In the common crowd, it goes to t

them hard

to strangers. Oh, Isabel, Isabel, this is the

s have borne th

k my friends in

foes. In nine days they will h

s the proudest and happiest w

your daughter! Tell every one, that when she found out she loved Mr. Rathey better than Sir Thomas Wynton, she did what was honorable and womanly, and that you admire

like them

ina, and you will forgiv

o no such

top people'

e again. I do not know her any more, and I do not want to know, whether she is living or dead, in plenty

id Robe

blame on mysel'

the

o condemns his mother, whet

invest money in the works now,

so far, without Wynton siller to help them, and

Thomas will take h

ld take a plate o' parritch; he might like them, and he might send them to the Back o' Beyond. All m

filled with moss and purple pansies. A car

gards to Mrs. and Miss Campbell. He will not intrude o

. Campbell read the card with pleasure, and a

shall shake it in their faces, and bid them tak' notice that Sir Thomas Wynton is still in the family as it were. And I shall make one

homas pays

ing consoling words. I hae noticed that all men find her pleasant and satisf

of Dora, mother. Sh

lp the poor man! Little

not her

s-she will lead

. I wonder if Sir Thomas

e will know, when Robert comes home; that is, if his temper will l

with Dora, love made him

' this world you will get wi' good temper. You be to threep, and threaten for what you want, and the

self, mother. You will soon pu

h I am doubting; all the mair, because nobody I ever heard of could tell me in what country on the face o' the globe a p

e says th

Bible is aye ready to

ou would try

nd I will not gie sickness the fine opportunity o' sleep. If Robert comes hame reasonable, I

d communicative mood. He said "he had been to see Sir Tho

bout Christina?" a

me she had returned all his gifts, and he had directed the jeweler to hold them for her further orders. He thinks she will be sure to call there, in order to find out if they have been given to him, and he has lef

e in the works now?"

on as he has rearranged his affairs. He

e lovely flower

most wast

hey were to say for him he would 'remember' us. And he sent Dora the

t did th

as 'unobtrusive loveliness.' You see Dora r

e her absence. 'Unobtrusive' indeed, and 'loveli

s," said Mrs. Campbell,

, but congratulations, that were due her. Was she not the proud mother of a noble daughter, whom neither rank nor wealth could lure from the paths of truth and honor? Of a daughter who held love as beyond price, and who would not wrong either his or her o

le, Sir Thomas was never weary of talking of his wounded heart, and lost bride. So Isabel quickly became his favorite confidant. She listened

ns about the trip Sir Thomas proposed taking, that he brought his maps and guidebooks, and showed her his route down the Mediterranean to Greece, up the Adriatic to Montenegro and Herzegovina, over the Dalmatian mountains, through A

together on the American continent. He showed her where he had hunted big game in the forests of the Hudson Bay Company, and he described to her the old cities of French Canada. Many afternoons were spent

d hearts. For obvious reasons, both Robert and Mrs. Campbell tolerated these-to them-tiresome recollections. Robert considered the baronet yet as a possible business contingent; and Mrs. Campbell silenced all doubtful sympathizers with remarks about his friendship, and his con

my was hence-forward to be observed. He said the wastrie of the past three or four months was unbelievable, and it had to be made up by

think in the first place we ought to reduce the number of servants. One man can be spared from the stable, and the second man in the house is not

needed a nurse

id you

av

call the boy by that

smal name. He ha

an, or any name you like in your

in the house for many months. She has assisted your chambermaid, helped McNab in the kitc

o one, but she is not wanted here, and the sooner she finds

e room. She heard her mother-in-law's scornful laugh, and her husband's angry voice as she closed the d

parlor, and with a lowering face and pee

presence, and more than one reason w

no interest in the cur

cent a short time ago, and you are always complaining that the business is too large for you to

ou to do with my

rsonally have no expenses fro

onal expenses as any other woman

eat. How much money have you given me du

aid all y

ind of

kin

sick-nothing else. I have bought little new

t require n

d alter, I paid all expe

mine. I have allowed you to use it for your perso

rt. I made it before I

oney the moment

I had to borrow a s

hat did you want with a sovereign? Y

er things with credit. And the church wants cash always. I cannot pay church dues with cred

credit at

ptions. I had to send to Fraser's

said: "Pay Ducie at once. I do not want h

decided to se

es

my old happy life. Oh, Robert

iving up three servants. Su

s and sister's comfort in the least. Ducie is everything to David and myself. She keeps our rooms clean and comfortable, brings my breakfast, waits on me w

three servants m

y feel poor because you sp

d mother says you were the pr

choice than your mother had. I did not e

ment, poetry, honor,

not have underst

do you

thing-the comic side. If she could mimic you, she partly understood you; if she could not mimic you, then you were uninteres

ot your

had many friends, none of th

s mother and his wife

man is willing to give up his mother, he has no right to take a wife. Under all conditions it must be one or

hard on my mother, had I

ame mistake that Rebekah told Isaac she was weary of her life for-you married a stranger, and because of this, she is continually asking

love and honor my mo

nd honor the wife whom you have persuaded to lea

ther, and the right of th

ne right will be broken to pieces against the other right, since there is no community of

t is a ma

t were not the nearly universal rule, what miserable, loveless children would be born, and how the jealous, quarrelling families of the earth would have

s, Dora, has something el

steps. Robert was walking moodily up and down, and through the open door he saw her kneeling by a large chair, and David's arms were round her neck, and she was telling him he must now

nts Isabel and Christina, his grandfather and grandmother Newton, and his dear mother, with a final petition that God would love David and make him a good boy. I

e lifted the little lad in his arms, and actually did kiss him. In that moment the pretty face with its glances so free, so bright, so seeking, without guile or misgiving, impressed itself on Robert's memory forever.

tiless, scornful face of his mother. He could not forget his son's prayer. He knew it well, he himself was never one to prompt, nor to correct, so it was certain that Theodora had taught the boy to pray for those who constantly spoke evil of her. He resolved to tell his mother of this incident, and again he tried to read t

er hand in his, and whispered "Robert!" Then his kiss brought back the color to her cheeks and the light to her eyes, and when he vowed that he loved her and

turning love. Even the angels desire to witness the reunion of hearts that have been kept apart by fault, or fate, and as for Theodora, she had the courage to be happy in this promise of better days, knowing that she came not