to
remember the warning, and guard against what she knew to be her greatest
besetment. And she fully intended to keep her promise. Richard had been
so patient and good, and was so fond of her, that it would, indeed, be a
shame if she did not do all in her power to make him happy. So strong
was she in her own purpose, that she forgot that the habit which had
grown with her years would be too powerful for merely a good resolution
to overcome.

But that evening, as they lingered over their meal, there was no
suspicion of future trouble. The atmosphere was one of love and calm
enjoyment. Would that upon every married life there always rested the
warm sunshine of that mutual love and trust with which most young people
commence their journey together. Too often the love grows cold, faith
in each other is lost, and the only change that comes to many from the
sore misery of living divided lives is the darkness of death, and an
unknown, unprepared for, eternity.

"O, Richard, I never thought you'd have had everything so nice and ready
for me. I quite expected plenty of work for a few days," said Jane.

"'Twasn't likely, my dear, as I'd have brought you to that at first, I'd
sooner have paid a woman; but mother, she'd have been quite hurt if I
hadn't have let her set to work; and I'm sure not even you would have
made the place look prettier and brighter," replied Richard.

"No, you're right, Richard. Dear old soul! It's very likely that I
shouldn't have fixed the rooms half so nicely; but I shall do my very
best to keep them just as they are for many a day. Missis always said I
was careless about my work; but it seems to me as if doing for one's own
home must be a very different thing to slaving for any one else."

"I've no fear of you, my dear, none at all," replied Richard; "but I
don't want you to be slaving and toiling away all your time. You'll get
plenty of that by and bye, like my poor mother."

"I can do all my own work, and perhaps lend her a helping hand, for
she'll be sure to miss you; and 'tisn't fair that I should take her son,
and not make her some kind of a return."

"Bless you, my girl! I'd thought of that before, but didn't like to say
anything to you about it, because some women might have been jealous if
their husbands had thought anything about their old mothers, who nursed
'em and brought 'em up. I'm real glad you're not that sort."

"I should think it downright mean to be jealous of my own mother-in