her glad, but these words of
David's were so good and so unexpected that Marcia could hardly hide her
happy tears.

"I was afraid I had been forward," murmured Marcia in the shadow of the
front stoop.

"Not at all, child, I like to hear a woman speak her mind,--that is,
allowing she has any mind to speak. That can't be said of all women.
There's Hannah Heath, for instance. I don't believe she would know a
railroad project from an essay on ancient art."

After that the house seemed a pleasant place aglow as they entered it, and
Marcia went up to her rest with a lighter heart.

But the child knew not that she had made a great impression that night
upon all who saw her as being beautiful and wise.

The aunts would not express it even to each other,--for they felt in duty
bound to discountenance her boldness in speaking out before the men and
making herself so prominent, joining in their discussions,--but each in
spite of her convictions felt a deep satisfaction that their neighbors had
seen what a beautiful and bright wife David had selected. They even felt
triumphant over their favorite Hannah, and thought secretly that Marcia
compared well with her in every way, but they would not have told this
even to themselves, no, not for worlds.

So the kindly gossipy town slept, and the young bride became a part of its
daily life.

CHAPTER XIII

Life began to take on a more familiar and interesting aspect to Marcia
after that. She had her daily round of pleasant household duties and she
enjoyed them.

There were many other gatherings in honor of the bride and groom,
tea-drinkings and evening calls, and a few called in to a neighbor's house
to meet them. It was very pleasant to Marcia as she became better
acquainted with the people and grew to like some of them, only there was
the constant drawback of feeling that it was all a pain and weariness to
David.

But Marcia was young, and it was only natural that she should enjoy her
sudden promotion to the privileges of a matron, and the marked attention
that was paid her. It was a mercy that her head was not turned, living as
she did to herself, and with no one in whom she could confide. For David
had shrunk within himself to such an extent that she did not like to
trouble him with anything.

It was only two days after the evening at the old Spafford house that
David came home to tea with ashen face, haggard eyes and white lips. He