through her at Erle's
careless remark.

It had never occurred to her simple mind to question her husband's
right to keep so entirely aloof from her, and to give her such
fragments of his time. But now, as Erle spoke, a dim unconscious
feeling came over her that another was usurping his rightful place;
that it was her husband who ought to be riding and driving with her,
and not his young cousin, but in her wifely loyalty she stifled the
feeling, and spoke firmly, though with crimsoned cheeks, like the
brave little woman she really was.

"Why, you extremely foolish boy," she said, "don't you know that Hugh
has something better to do with his time than to waste it on me? You
see," she continued, with much dignity, "he has my estate to look
after as well as his own, and it is a large one, and he has no
reliable bailiff."

"Dear, dear," replied Erle, with much solemnity.

"And he has to ride over to Pierrepoint on magisterial business ever
so often," and here Fay stammered slightly over the long word, but
recovered herself in an instant; "and he visits the infirmary, and
looks after any of his people who are ill there."

Here Erle again said, "Dear, dear;" but his provoking smile died away
after a glance at her face.

"And," continued Fay, her mouth quivering a little, "you must see how
proud I am of being his wife, and must not think that I am sorry that
he is able to spend so little of his time with me, for I would not
have him neglect his duty for the world; no, no, he is far too good
and noble and useful to waste his time on me;" and Fay's face wore
such a sweet tremulous smile as she spoke, that Erle whispered under
his breath, "You are a darling," and went out silently, and perhaps
for the first time in his life forgot to hum as he put on his
fur-lined coat.

And Fay, standing alone in her little room, whispered softly, "No, no,
my bonny Hugh, your Wee Wifie loves you far too well to keep you all
to herself;" but during the remainder of the day she was a little
quieter than usual; and Erle missed the gentle fun that rippled into
such a stream of girlish talk. He had no idea that every now and then
his words came back to her with a little throb of pain, "You have your
husband, Fay."

Yes, she had her husband; but would the time ever come to the
girl-wife when she should know she had him, but that she could not
hold him, when she should learn that he had given her everything but
his heart, and cry out agains