to talk and to listen; in
short, to make myself agreeable. I have no right to inflict my
companionship on Mrs. Ross's guests on any other condition; and all that
would be a greater exertion than I feel fit to undertake."

"There _was_ a time when you were willing to make a little exertion for
my sake," she returned in a piqued tone, "but wives are not to expect the
attention freely bestowed upon a sweetheart, and so I must go alone as
usual."

"Mamma, what a shame for you to talk so to poor papa!" exclaimed Evelyn
indignantly. "You know--"

"Hush, hush, Evelyn," said her father in a gently reproving tone, "be
respectful to your mother, always."

"Yes, sir," returned the child, with a loving look into his eyes. Then to
her mother, "I beg your pardon, mamma, I did not mean to be rude; but--"
with a scrutinizing glance at the richly attired figure before her.

"Well?" laughingly interrogated the lady, as the child paused with a
slight look of embarrassment and a heightened color.

"Nothing, mamma, only--"

"Something your correct taste disapproves about my attire?"

"Yes, mamma; your dress is very handsome; quite rich and gay enough for a
ball-room; but--wouldn't a simpler, plainer one be more suitable for a
lawn-party?"

"Well, really!" was the laughing rejoinder; "the idea of such a chit as
you venturing to criticise her mother's taste in dress! You spoil her,
Eric; making so much of her and allowing her to have and express an
opinion on any and every subject. There, I must be going; I see Patrick
is at the door with the carriage. So good-by, and don't overwork
yourself, Eric."

"Mamma," Evelyn called after her, "Patrick is to go for the doctor, you
know."

"Oh, yes; I'll tell him," Mrs. Leland answered, and the next moment the
carriage was whirling away down the drive.

"There, she is gone!" said Evelyn. "Oh, papa, when I am a woman I shall
not marry unless I feel that I can always be content to stay with my
husband when he is not able to go with me."

"But business may prevent him very often when sickness does not, and you
may grow very weary of staying always at home," he said, softly smoothing
her hair, then bending to touch his lips to her smooth white forehead and
smile into the large dark eyes lifted to his as she knelt at the side of
his chair.

"No, no! not if he is as dear and kind as you are, papa. But no other man
is, I think."

"Quite a mistake, my pet; the world surely contains many bet