ius of the other.

Zoe, standing before the mirror, brushing out her soft shining tresses,
made no response.

"Why are you so silent, little woman?" Edward asked presently.

"Because I have nothing to say that you would want to hear."

"Nothing that I would want to hear? why, I am fond of the very sound of
your voice. But what's the matter?" for he had come to her side, and
perceived with surprise and concern that her eyes were full of tears.

"Oh, nothing! except that I'd looked forward to a delightful evening with
my husband, after being parted from him all day, and didn't get it."

"My dear Zoe," he said, "I owe you an apology! I actually forgot all about
those lessons."

"And me, too," she said bitterly. "My musical and conversational gifts
sink into utter insignificance beside those of these newcomers."

"Jealousy is a very mean and wicked passion, Zoe; I don't like to see you
indulging it," he said, turning away from her. "I am, of course, expected
to pay some attention to my mother's guests, and you will have to put up
with it."

"You are always right and I am always wrong," she said, half choking with
indignation; "but if you are always to do as _you_ please, I shall do as
_I_ please."

"In regard to what?" he asked coldly.

"Everything!" she answered in a defiant tone.

Edward strode angrily into the next room; but five minutes sufficed to
subdue his passion, and in tender tones he called softly to his wife,
"Zoe, love, will you please come here for a moment?"

She started with surprise at the kindness of his tones, her heart leaped
for joy, and she ran to him, smiling through her tears.

He had seated himself in a large easy-chair. "Come, darling," he said,
drawing her to a seat upon his knee. Then with his arm about her waist,
"Zoe, love, we are husband and wife, whom nothing but death can ever
separate. Let us be kind to one another, kind and forbearing, so that when
one is taken the other will have no cause for self-reproach."

"O Ned, don't talk of that," she sobbed with her arms about his neck, her
cheek laid to his. "I'm sure it would kill me to lose you. You are all I
have in the wide world."

"So I am, you poor little dear," he said, softly smoothing her hair, "and
I ought to be always kind to you. But, indeed, Zoe, you have no need to be
jealous of any other woman. I may like to talk with them and listen to
their music, but when I want some one to love and pet, my heart turns to
my