nto self-pity. In some way he had been defrauded.
It never could have been intended that a man capable of winning so many
of his heart's desires as he had proved himself to be, should be tied to
a woman incapable of illuminating and honoring his position. If he only
had a wife of whose person he could be proud! If he only had a wife
whose queenly presence and manners would give significance to the
splendors of the Palgrave mansion!

There was no way left for him, however, but to make the best of his
circumstances, and put a brave face upon the matter. Accordingly, the
next morning after his arrival, he told, with such display of enthusiasm
as he could assume, the story of his purchase. The children were all
attention, and made no hesitation to express their delight with the
change that lay before them. Mrs. Belcher grew pale, choked over her
breakfast, and was obliged to leave the table. At the close of the meal,
Mr. Belcher followed her to her room, and found her with dry eyes and an
angry face.

"Robert, you have determined to kill me," she said, almost fiercely.

"Oh, no, Sarah; not quite so bad as that."

"How could you take a step which you knew would give me a life-long
pain? Have I not suffered enough? Is it not enough that I have ceased
practically to have a husband?--that I have given up all society, and
been driven in upon my children? Am I to have no will, no consideration,
no part or lot in my own life?"

"Put it through, Sarah; you have the floor, and I'm ready to take it all
now."

"And it is all for show," she went on, "and is disgusting. There is not
a soul in the city that your wealth can bring to me that will give me
society. I shall be a thousand times lonelier there than I have been
here; and you compel me to go where I must receive people whom I shall
despise, and who, for that reason, will dislike me. You propose to force
me into a life that is worse than emptiness. I am more nearly content
here than I can ever be anywhere else, and I shall never leave here
without a cruel sense of sacrifice."

"Good for you, Sarah!" said Mr. Belcher. "You're more of a trump than I
thought you were; and if it will do you any good to know that I think
I've been a little rough with you, I don't mind telling you so. But the
thing is done, and it can't be undone. You can have your own sort of
life there as you do here, and I can have mine. I suppose I could go
there and run the house alone; but it isn't exactly