ngle word.

Edward came in, came close to her side. Still she neither moved nor lifted
her eyes. But she could not control her color, and he saw through her
pretences.

He knelt down beside her chair, bent his head and looked up into her face
with laughing eyes.

"What can it be that so interests my little wife that she does not even
know that her husband has come home, after this their first day of
separation? Have you no kiss of welcome for him, little woman?"

The book was thrust hastily aside, and in an instant her arms were about
his neck, her lips pressed again and again to his.

"O Ned, I do love you!" she said softly, "but I began to think you didn't
care for me--going to see mamma first, and then waiting to dress."

"Mamma and grandpa were concerned in the business that took me away
to-day, and I owed them a prompt report upon it; yet I looked in here
first for my wife, but couldn't find her; then I asked for her, and was
told that she had been seen going out for a walk. So I thought I would
dress and be ready for her when she came in."

"Was that it?" she asked, looking a little ashamed. "But," regarding him
with critical eyes, "you'd better always let me help with your dressing;
your cravat isn't tied nicely, and your hair doesn't look half so well as
when I brush it for you."

"Can't you set matters straight, then?" he asked, releasing her from the
close embrace in which he had held her for the last few minutes.

"Yes; just keep still as you are, and I'll re-tie the cravat."

He held still, enjoying, as he always did, having her deft fingers at work
about him, and gazing the while into the pretty face, with eyes full of
loving admiration.

"There!" she said at length, leaning back a little to take in the full
effect, "I don't believe that can be improved upon."

"Much obliged," he said, getting up from his knees. "Now, what next?"

"Your hair, of course," she answered, jumping up and leading the way into
the dressing-room. "Sit down," arming herself with comb and brush, "you
know I'm not tall enough to reach your head while you're standing up."

He obeyed, asking, "What have you been doing to-day?"

"What a question!" she returned, laughing; "of course, I'd take my
pleasure when my lord and master was away."

"Don't call me that, dear," he said in a tone of gentle, half remorseful
expostulation.

"Why not? doesn't the Bible say Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord?"

"But it doesn't sa