About the time of my introduction to Mr. Mannion--or, to speak more
correctly, both before and after that period--certain peculiarities in
Margaret's character and conduct, which came to my knowledge by pure
accident, gave me a little uneasiness and even a little displeasure.
Neither of these feelings lasted very long, it is true; for the
incidents which gave rise to them were of a trifling nature in
themselves. While I now write, however, these domestic occurrences are
all vividly present to my recollection. I will mention two of them as
instances. Subsequent events, yet to be related, will show that they are
not out of place at this part of my narrative.

One lovely autumn morning, I called rather before the appointed time
at North Villa. As the servant opened the front garden-gate, the idea
occurred to me of giving Margaret a surprise, by entering the drawing
room unexpectedly, with a nosegay gathered for her from her own
flower-bed. Telling the servant not to announce me, I went round to the
back garden, by a gate which opened into it at the side of the house.
The progress of my flower-gathering led me on to the lawn under one of
the drawing-room windows, which was left a little open. The voices of my
wife and her mother reached me from the room. It was this part of their
conversation which I unintentionally overheard:--

"I tell you, mamma, I must and will have the dress, whether papa chooses
or not."

This was spoken loudly and resolutely; in such tones as I had never
heard from Margaret before.

"Pray--pray, my dear, don't talk so," answered the weak, faltering voice
of Mrs. Sherwin; "you know you have had more than your year's allowance
of dresses already."

"I won't be allowanced. _His_ sister isn't allowanced: why should I be?"

"My dear love, surely there is some difference--"

"I'm sure there isn't, now I am his wife. I shall ride some day in my
carriage, just as his sister does. _He_ gives me my way in everything;
and so ought you."

"It isn't _me,_ Margaret: if I could do anything, I'm sure I would; but
I really couldn't ask your papa for another new dress, after his having
given you so many this year, already."

"That's the way it always is with you, mamma--you can't do this, and
you can't do that--you are so excessively tiresome! But I will have the
dress, I'm determined. He says his sister wears light blue crape of an
evening; and I'll have light blue crape, too--see if I don't! I'll get
it