g tall, he carried himself with so much dignity as to give the
impression of height. He was a man who would always be noticed among
other men on account of his strong individuality and sheer force of
character.

Audrey was right when she owned that he made a splendid husband for
Geraldine. Mr. Harcourt was exceedingly proud of his beautiful wife; but
from the first hour of her married life he had made her understand that
though she managed other people, including her own mother, her husband
was to be the one exception--that, in other words, he fully intended to
be Geraldine's master.

Geraldine had to learn this lesson even on her wedding-day. There was
some little confusion at the last--a small hitch in the domestic
arrangements--and someone, Dr. Ross probably, proposed that the happy
couple should wait for a later train; they could telegraph, and dinner
could be put back for an hour. Geraldine endorsed her father's opinion;
perhaps, at the last minute, the young bride would fain have lingered
lovingly in the home that had sheltered her so happily.

'It is a good idea. We should have to drive so dreadfully fast,' she
said with some eagerness. 'Yes, we will stay, Percival.'

'My darling, there is someone else to consult,' he returned, taking her
hand; 'and someone else votes differently. Dr. Ross, will you ask them
to send round the carriage. Geraldine has had excitement enough; it
will be far better for us to go.' Geraldine did not like her husband any
the worse for showing her that he meant to manage for both for the
future. She was clever enough to take the hint, and to refer to him on
all occasions. Before many weeks were over, young Mrs. Harcourt had so
fully identified herself with her husband's interests, was so strangely
impregnated with his opinions, that she insensibly reproduced them--'and
Percival thinks so and so' now replaced the old decided 'that is my
opinion,' which had hitherto leavened her conversation.

'Who would have thought that Geraldine, who snubbed all her lovers so
unmercifully, and who never would listen to one until Percival "came,
saw, and conquered"--who would have imagined that this very exacting
young woman would have turned out a submissive and pattern wife?' was
Audrey's remark when she returned from her first visit to Hillside.

But in her heart she respected her brother-in-law for the change he had
effected.

'Well, Audrey,' observed Mr. Harcourt, with a mischievous twinkle in