Elsie at Nantucket | Page 5

necessary," Violet answered, with a smile. "Probably they are
discussing the question how the plantation is to be attended to in their
absence. You know it won't take care of itself, and the men must have a
head to direct their labors."
"Oh yes, of course; and for that reason Ned is kept ever so busy while
we are here, and I do think it will be delightful to get away to the
seashore with him, where there will be nothing to do but enjoy
ourselves."
Zoe skipped away with the last word, ran up to her room, and began
turning over the contents of bureau drawers and taking garments from
wardrobes and closets, with the view of selecting such as she might
deem it desirable to carry with her on the contemplated trip.
She was humming softly a snatch of lively song, feeling very gay and
light-hearted, when, coming across a gray travelling-dress a little worse
for the wear, her song suddenly ceased, while tears gathered in her eyes,
then began to fall drop by drop as she stood gazing down, upon this
relic of former days.
"Just one year ago," she murmured. "Papa, papa! I never thought I
could live a whole year without you; and be happy, too! Ah, that seems

ungrateful, when you were so, so good to me! But no; I am sure you
would rather have me happy; and it would be ungrateful to my dear
husband if I were not."
She put the dress aside, wiped away her tears, and took down another.
It was a dark woollen dress. She had travelled home in it the previous
fall, and had worn it once since on a very memorable occasion; her
cheek crimsoned at the recollection as she glanced from it to her
husband, who entered the room at that instant; then her eyes fell.
"What is it, love?" he asked, coming quickly toward her.
"Nothing, only--you remember the last time you saw me in this dress?
Oh, Ned, what a fool I was! and how good you were to me!"
He had her in his arms by this time, and she was hiding her blushing
face on his breast. "Never mind, my pet," he said, soothing her with
caresses; "it is a secret between ourselves, and always shall be, unless
you choose to tell it."
"I? No indeed!" she said, drawing a long breath; "I think I should
almost die of mortification if any one else should find it out; but I'm
glad you know it, because if you didn't my conscience wouldn't give
me a bit of peace till I confessed to you."
"Ah! and would that be very difficult?"
"Yes; I don't know how I could ever find courage to make the attempt."
"Are you really so much afraid of me?" he asked, in a slightly
aggrieved tone.
"Yes; for I love you so dearly that your displeasure is perfectly
unendurable," she replied, lifting her head to gaze fondly into his eyes.
"Ah, is that it, my darling?" he said, in a glow of delight. "I deem
myself a happy man in possessing such a treasure as you and your dear
love. I can hardly reconcile myself to the thought of a separation for

even a few weeks."
"Separation!" she cried, with a start, and in a tone of mingled pain and
incredulity. "What can you mean? But I won't be separated from you;
I'm your wife, and I claim the right to cling to you always, always!"
"And I would have you do so, if it could be without a sacrifice of your
comfort and enjoyment, but--"
"Comfort and enjoyment!" she interrupted; "it is here in your arms or
by your side that I find both; nowhere else. But why do you talk so? is
anything wrong?"
"Nothing, except that it seems impossible for me to leave the plantation
for weeks to come, unless I can get a better substitute than I know of at
present."
"Oh, Ned, I am so sorry!" she cried, tears of disappointment springing
to her eyes.
"Don't feel too badly about it, little wife," he said, in a cheery tone; "it
is just possible the right man may turn up before the yacht sails; and in
that case I can go with the rest of you; otherwise I shall hope to join
you before your stay at Nantucket is quite over."
"Not my stay; for I won't go one step of the way without you, unless
you order me!" she added, sportively, and with a vivid blush; "and I'm
not sure that I'll do it even in that case."
"Oh, yes you will," he said, laughingly. "You know you promised to be
always good and obedient on condition that I would love you and keep
you; and