beginning, all will go right.

"I mean to tell him so. If he wants me to be very good, he should set me
the example. Good! when he scolds me again, I'll just remind him that
example is better than precept.

"No, I won't either; I'll forbear. Ned is good to me, and I don't want to
provoke him. I mean to be a good little wife to him, and I know he wants
to be the best of husbands to me.

"Oh, how kind and good he was to me when papa died, and I hadn't another
friend in the world! how he took me to his heart and comforted and loved
me! I must never make him wish he hadn't. I'll do everything I can to
prove that I'm not ungrateful for all his love and kindness."

Tears sprang to her eyes, and she was seized with a longing desire for his
presence, for an opportunity to pour out her love and gratitude, and have
him clasp her to his heart with tenderest caresses, as was his wont.

She glanced at the clock. Oh joy! he might, he probably would, return in
an hour or perhaps a trifle sooner.

She sprang up and began her toilet for the evening, paying close attention
to his taste in the arrangement of her hair and the selection of her dress
and ornaments.

"I want to look just as beautiful in his sight as I possibly can, that he
may be pleased with me and love me better than ever," was the thought in
her heart. "I am his own wife, and who has a better right to his love than
I? Dear Ned! I hope we'll never quarrel, but always keep the two bears
with us in our home."

Her labors completed, she turned herself about before the pier-glass,
mentally pronounced her attire faultless from the knot of ribbon in her
hair to the dainty boots on the shapely little feet, and her cheek flushed
with pleasure as the mirror told her that face and form were even prettier
than the dress and ornaments that formed a fit setting to their charms.

The hour was almost up. She glanced from the window to see if he were yet
in sight.

He was not, but she wanted a walk, so would go to meet him; he would
dismount at sight of her, and they would walk home together.

Tying on a garden hat and throwing a light shawl about her shoulders, she
hastened down-stairs and out into the grounds.

She had walked more than half the length of the avenue, when she saw the
family carriage turning in at the gates, Edward riding beside it.

The flutter of a veil from its window caused her to change her plans. He
was not returning alone, but bringing lady visitors;