Don't you make too much fuss over him at first, my dear. He'll be
spoiled, and always expect you to keep it up. Just you take my advice,
Mrs. Watson, and live a little easy the next few months, while you've
got the chance. Life'll be hard enough for you, depend upon it; and I'd
just save my strength if I was you, for you'll need it all."

With these parting words the woman went away, leaving her suggestions
and advice to work as they might in Jane's mind. It was so different to
anything her husband's mother had ever said to her on the matter. "Spare
no pains," she had said, "during the first year of your married life, to
make home the happiest place in all the world for your husband, and you
will never regret it."

Hitherto Jane had listened to her words and acted upon them, thereby
securing her own and her husband's happiness. Now she sat down, somewhat
listlessly, to think over what Mrs. Jones had just said.

"Who's likely to be right, I wonder, mother or Mrs. Jones? 'Tisn't
likely that his own mother would think her son could be spoiled; and
yet, I don't know but what I'm doing that, and I'm sure I can't keep it
up always. I never have an idle moment," mused she; "what with keeping
my own place as clean as a new pin, and running round to mother's. I
wonder what Mrs. Jones would have said if I'd told her that he didn't
like my dirty dress yesterday evening, and scarcely said a word to me,
after slaving all day to please him! Men do want a lot from a woman, I
must say!"

But just at that point Jane started to her feet, and resolutely put away
the new thought which had come upon her quite unawares. But Jane's habit
had asserted itself again, and, little by little, she yielded to it;
until one day Richard let himself into his home with the latch-key, and,
walking into the little kitchen, found an untidy place, and a dirty wife
stooping before a fireless grate.

"Come, come, missis, do you know the time?" he said.

"How should I, when the clock's stopped?"

"Why didn't you wind it then, my dear? But don't flurry yourself," he
added kindly; "I'll get cleaned, and then maybe tea'll be ready." And
passing into the outer kitchen, Richard began to wash away the traces of
his day's work. Half ashamed of herself, Jane bustled about, and soon
had tea waiting. When Richard came in he glanced at his
slatternly-looking wife, and said: "I don't mind waiting while you're
making yourself tidy, Jane."

"It doesn't matter, Richa