ered so by most of her acquaintances, and by
herself," he returned with a smile.

"I do like to see very pretty faces," said Thelma warmly; "it is as if
one looked at pictures. Since I have been in London I have seen so many
of them--it is quite pleasant. Yet none of these lovely ladies seem to
me as if they were really happy or strong in health."

"Half of them have got nervous diseases and all sorts of things wrong
with them from over-much tea and tight lacing," replied Errington, "and
the few who _are_ tolerably healthy are too bouncing by half, going in
for hunting and such-like amusements till they grow blowsy and fat, and
coarse as tom-boys or grooms. They can never hit the _juste milieu_.
Well!" and he rose from the breakfast-table. "I'll go and see Neville
and attend to business. We'll drive out this afternoon for some fresh
air, and afterwards you must rest, my pet--for you'll find an 'at home'
more tiring than climbing a mountain in Norway."

He kissed, and left her to her usual occupations, of which she had many,
for she had taken great pains to learn all the details of the work in
the Errington Establishment,--in fact, she went every morning to the
little room where Mistress Parton, the housekeeper, received her with
much respect and affection, and duly instructed her on every point of
the domestic management and daily expenditure, so that she was
thoroughly acquainted with everything that went on.

She had very orderly quiet ways of her own, and though thoughtful for
the comfort and well-being of the lowest servant in her household she
very firmly checked all extravagance and waste, yet in such a gentle,
unobtrusive manner that her control was scarcely felt--though her
husband at once recognized it in the gradually decreasing weekly
expenses, while to all appearance, things were the same as ever. She had
plenty of clear, good common sense,--she saw no reason why she should
waste her husband's wealth simply because it was abundant,--so that
under her mild sway, Sir Philip found himself getting richer without any
trouble on his own part. His house assumed an air of lighter and more
tasteful elegance,--flowers, always arranged by Thelma herself, adorned
the rooms,--birds filled the great conservatory with their delicious
warblings, and gradually that strange fairy sweet fabric known as "Home"
rose smilingly around him. Formerly he had much disliked his stately
town mansion--he had thought it dull and cold--