A Reconstructed Marriage

nd it was only by a painful endeavor, that he returned to the Robert of six years previously. His wife's conversation, though bright and clever, was not as pleasant to him as his mother's biti

r present whom he desired to make envious or astonished; in fact he had descended to that commonplace stage of love, which values a wife or a mistress only according to the value set upon her by outsiders-by their envy and jeal

d injustice, and despised her for destroying his ideals and illusions. Thus, even her excellencies were against her. Again, Mrs. Campbell disguised much of the real character of her abuse, in the picturesqueness of the Scotch patois; nothing she said in this form sounded as wick

pipe, I may say freely, I rather fancy it. It doesna remind me o' the stable, and I have no nerves to be shocked by its vulgarity. God be th

the same reason she hates me to wear a cap-she thinks it makes me look like a workingman. Dora is quite aristocratic

any o' us sick at the stomach? Was there ever a Campbell made vulgar, or low, by a cap on his head? 'Deed they are pretty men always, but prettiest of a' when they are wearing the Glengary wi' a sprig o' myrtle in the front o' it. Dod! it makes me scunner

other-you

do; if you are understanding what I mean by déshabille-I'm not vera sure mysel', but I'm thinking it means easy fitting c

mother. You genera

t; and that you find out in t

; and it was homelike and familiar to Robert. With it as the vehicle for her flattery and her iron will, she managed her son as no sensitive, truth

t said: "I want a whiff of strong tobacco, Dora. I have been fr

eve the tobacco will make me sick. You kno

ave you made ill, and the fear of it doing so woul

Robe

o the parlor, and smoke

You will not stay lon

e is finished

l economies, and their discussion was her excellent excuse-if she needed an excuse, which she rarely did. Among these economies, the dismissal of Ducie came to question agai

ill not affect

kfast, who is to carr

r the like o' her. But I'll tell you how it is. McNab has the habit o' humoring her wi' dainties-mushrooms on toast, a few chicken livers, an

there is no nobility like to that in this world. You know well, that Scotland has

s ministers' daughters hae been the deil's daughters to me, and to my sons-vera Eves

ther, where m

o' his teens, and tied to a wife, and to the wife's mother likewise. Never was a finer lad flung to the mischief than your

s my wife that has the mother-in-law," and

s has the mother-in-law, but you hae the mother, and be thankfu' for the gift and the grace o' her. Your mother wi

We were talki

, and she be to go to her ain folks

ou will succeed in

tter entirely to me, I wi

though he knew well that a few decisive words from himself would put an end to the dispute. Mrs. Campbell was glad he did not s

"you will tell Ducie to c

hey were peculiarly offensive to Mrs. Campbell, adding to this saucy misdemeanor earrings, and two pink bows, a ring on her engagement finger, an embroidered apron, and slippers with rosettes holding a small imitation diamond buckl

ogy for delay, and Mrs. Campbell was on the point o

to come at once.

as b

ere you

ing my

ssed yourself

to do with. My mistress told me how to dress. I

you going

t bid to

bid not to

ss did not

will help McNab in the k

g you tell me, ma'am, and I do

lazy, impud

e months, and never got a sixpence, or a penny piece, for all I did. Thanks, I never expected; for it's only black word

who you are

ow as ever I talked

u suffer for yo

you hurt people out

will pack your trunk, and come to me for your wage. There is a train for Kendal

ment. I am going with my mistress at half-past eleven, and I shall come back here with her, when she returns. And t

at three o'clock fo

pay from you. My mistress is now waiting for me,"

e! Come here

east she did not answer. Then Mrs. Campbell followed

ing most rudely to me, Dora. I want her unti

nd need her very much. She h

he boy a

can

are you

e dining early to-day, and I

oo late. I must

not wish." Then turning to Ducie she asked, "

t answer. "I would not lift

r what s

l way to me. I think Jepson must ha

es whiskey. She wo

ou owe her, and

money to pa

end you t

She satisfies me thoroughly. I

t of all reasons-

sk Robert

Robert, will y

s frank, beautiful face, his strong vitality, and his pretty manners were instantly notable, for when he saw his grandmother was present, he lifted his cap and said: "Good-morning, grandmother." She did not answer, though she regarded

early dinner he asked permission to take David to a circus then in Glasgow, and the boy's entreaties being added, Theodora could not resist them. They went off in a hurry of delight, and finding herself al

at blackened and haunted her future-the terror lest David should be taken from her, and sent to some severe, disciplinary boarding-school. W

bert Campbell will never find you, until D

, Canada, are all governed by English laws, and so then, anywhere in these countries, David could be taken from me, and my h

not be forced to live with a husband who treats you cruelly, and I am sure no court would allow a child of tender age to be taken fr

he had busi

ught her two daughters to a school she remembered in Edinburgh, but not bein

they

home again, when the school

, Mar

could go

e discussion, when Mr. Kennedy and David returned. It was both David's and Ducie's first visit to a circus, and afte

ly you are at her service." And the supposed Mr. Kennedy took Theodora's hands, and said: "M

l, your husband's elder brother. I am also the foster-son of Mrs. McNab, and I have heard all from her, and have be

ome trace of his relationship, but could find none. David Campbell was more Celt than Gael, he was tall and slender, had a gentle voice and a manner that could only come from a good heart. His whole appearance was aquiline

with them, and heard all they could tell me of your life,

ll me wh

father will give us good advice, and we will not move

That is wh

their a

m so

little namesake. And I assure you, if I saw any other way of bringing my dear brother to his senses,

seen you

He cannot, for he seldom saw me. I should not have known him if I had met h

bert I only know-or used to know. He was a noble

We are going to educate that other Robert. I love my brother, Theodora, and we will work togeth

r had a brother, but have often longed

ll be! Your father's

Bradford. Any one will tell you

ell them all-for McNab has told me all-and

took her home in his carriage, and Robert was compelled to thank him for his courtesy; but he followed his wife into their

ections to the Oli

trusted them, never

her trust

e is

nding to Dav

ll

a little

want he

he bell

odora had sat down. Her face was sad and stern, and her

. She came in smiling and curts

uc

s,

forever, at half-past three this af

told me was n

your m

ppose

g girl, I will not send you to the street now that it is dark. You

not take a favor from you, though

what you are doing. Ducie, do not go away ye

chool in the autumn

n. Robert, dear Robert, I entr

my mother, it is impossib

ered her face with her hands, an

rting her. "Don't, ma'am. Please don't

e brooch at her throat and

oney. You know that, Ducie. Take these instead. Keep them for my sake, dear. Oh Ducie, Ducie! y

ts into Ducie's hand, and walking with her to the door, kissed her there; th

uss was about a common servant girl-a disobedient, insole

away, and answered proudly: "Because I was h

r to disobey

ppose I had called your mother's chambermaid, and ordered

housekeeper. When she ordered Ducie

e to obey your m

y her

e unjust and tyrannical, I will not obey them. I will be a partner in none of her sin

But we shall have no more English girls

to Glasgow, for the sake of Glasgow?

ve of you giving va

wn. I had it long

he ought not to be allowed to carry it away

s case my class ring of diamonds and sapphires, worth eighty pounds; a ring my class paid for, and gave me. You promised me it should be returned. It never has been. D

ur head is mine. I can sell it if I

ng of the kind.

e law of

rried. I was beguiled into slavery. Why are girls in sc

England. Any lawye

at the person who took it was, and is, a thief. The law may give you my clothing and ornaments, and your mother, assuming your things to be hers, may give them

nger and her sorrow. Her splendid eyes stabbed him with their scornful glances; her air and attitude was regal as

watch and said: "

t no d

wn soul. And though at that moment he understood his mother's hatred of her, and believed that he hims