uld have gone to no more
loving and prudent guide; and Peter's answer was but the echo of her
own feelings.

"In marriage, Yanna," he said, "there is a tie besides love--it is
patience. There is a veil for faults better than blind admiration--it
is forgiveness. There is a time for everything, so if you have
patience and forgiveness, your hour will come."

Thus the first eighteen months of her married life had passed not
unhappily away; and she lived, and loved, and hoped for the time when
Harry would put from him entirely the gay, dancing, playing, flirting,
immature existence, which was so unbecoming to his domestic and civil
honor as a husband and a father. Indeed, he was himself beginning to
be aware of the incongruity; for he said to Adriana one evening at the
close of October:

"I saw Cousin Alida to-day. She is in town for the winter."

"What did she say, Harry? When is she coming here?"

"She will call to-morrow. She hoped I would not compel her to go into
the gay places of the world this year. I do believe the old lady went
out so much last season just to watch me, just to make me wait upon
her, and so keep me out of temptation. Fancy Miss Alida as my
chaperon! It was very good of her--but fruitless."

Adriana smilingly asked: "What did you say about the gay places,
Harry?"

"I told her I was going to have my fling this year, and after this
year you and I would settle down to a sensible career. I told her,
indeed, that I intended to go into politics."

"You have a great ability for politics, Harry. Professor Snowdon says
you are a natural orator. How I should like to hear you make a great
political speech!"

"Well, pet, some day perhaps you may have your desire. I think of
taking lessons in elocution this winter."

"Do not, Harry. Your own speech and gestures are better than acquired
ones. I am sure you will make a great debater."

Harry was much pleased. He cleared his throat, and straightened
himself, and quite unconsciously struck an attitude. Then he kissed
his wife tenderly, and said: "If I am a little late to-night, do not
mind, dear. I have to preside at a supper given to our new opera
stars. I will come home as soon as I possibly can." And she smiled him
out of sight, and was ready to give him the last smile when he turned
at the door of the lighted hall for it. But he did not see her fly to
her boy's cradle and lift the child to her breast, and with tears
welling into her eyes, comfort he