The Law and the Lady

lves, being in subjection unto their own husbands; even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him

up his book, and looked at me across the altar rails with a hearty expression of interest on his broad, red fac

you are

almost as much bewildered as I was. The same thought had, as I believe, occurred to us both at the same moment. Was it really possible-in spite

, in the tone of a woman who

k his

w your

followed my uncle and the curate w

of the dreary neighborhood and the dull day. No relatives or friends of my husband's were present; his family, as I have already hinted, disapproved of his marriage. Except my uncle and my aunt, no other relations appeared on my side. I had lo

nfusion of the moment (and in the absence of any information to guide me) I committed a mistake-omino

forgotten your own name already? Well, well! let us hope you will ne

through my first effort, and wrote my ma

ia Br

rprise, that his hand trembled too, and that he prod

ce Wo

inning!" she said, pointing to my first unfortunate signature with the

t was an indescribable relief to hear my uncle's hearty voice wishing me a happy life at parting. The good man had left his north-country Vicarage (my home since the death of my parents) expressly to read the service at my marriage; an

you have chosen well. Our house will be dreary enough without you; but I don't complain, my dear. On the contrary, if this change in your life makes you happier, I rejoice. Come, come! don't cry, or you wil

ank a little, dearly as I loved my husband, when I had seen

enjamin always dined with us on Sundays in my father's time, and always brought some little present with him for his master's child. I was very near to "spoiling my

ed me, and turned my mi

o, Valeria?

f my uncle's advice; in other words, to see how

the glas

rk a blue that they are generally mistaken for black. Her eyebrows are well enough in form, but they are too dark and too strongly marked. Her nose just inclines toward the aquiline bend, and is considered a little too large by persons difficult to please in the matter of noses. The mouth, her best feature, is very delicately shaped, and is capable of presenting great varieties of expression. As to the face in general, it is too narrow and too long at the lower part, too broad and too low in the higher regions of the eyes and the head. The whole picture, as reflected in the glass, represents a woman of some elegance, rather

to say. I have done my best to keep clear of the two vanities-the vanity of depreciating and the vanity of

in the glass sta

n the countenance of a man. His smile is rare and sweet; his manner, perfectly quiet and retiring, has yet a latent persuasiveness in it which is (to women) irresistibly winning. He just halts a little in his walk, from the effect of an injury received in past years, when he was a soldier serving in India, and he carries a thick bamboo cane, with a curious crutch handle (an old favorite), to help himself along whenever he gets on

ll I want to know. We l

nder their umbrellas as we pass through their ranks and hasten into our carriage. No cheering; no sunshine; no flowers strewn in our path; no grand breakfast; no ge

out all prying eyes in that way. After what seems to be an interminable delay the train starts. My husband winds his arm round me. "At last!" he whispers, with love in his eyes

rise in me as I write! Let me dry my