Elsies Kith and Kin | Page 8

half hopefully, "do you think it
is quite certain to be too bad for her to go?"
"Quite, I am afraid. If she should offer to go," he added mischievously,
"we will not be more urgent against it than politeness demands, and, if
she persists, will not refuse the use of the close carriage as far as the
depot."
"She offer to go!" exclaimed Zoe scornfully: "you may depend, she'll
stay as long as she has the least vestige of an excuse for doing so."
"Oh, now, little woman! don't begin the day with being quite so hard
and uncharitable," Edward said, half seriously, half laughingly.
Zoe was not far wrong in her estimate of her guest. Miss Deane was
both insincere and a thoroughly selfish person, caring nothing for the
comfort or happiness of others. She had perceived Zoe's antipathy from
the first day of their acquaintance, and took a revengeful, malicious
delight in tormenting her; and she had sufficient penetration to see that
the most effectual way to accomplish her end was through Edward. The

young wife's ardent and jealous affection for her husband was very
evident; plainly, it was pain to her to see him show Miss Deane the
slightest attention, or seem interested in any thing she did or said;
therefore the intruder put forth every effort to interest him, and
monopolize his attention, and at the same time contrived to draw out
into exhibition the most unamiable traits in Zoe's character, doing it so
adroitly that Edward did not perceive her agency in the matter, and
thought Zoe alone to blame. To him Miss Deane's behavior appeared
unexceptionable, her manner most polite and courteous, Zoe's just the
reverse.
It was so through all that day and week; for the storm continued, and
the uninvited guest never so much as hinted at a wish to leave the
shelter of their hospitable roof.
Zoe began each day with heroic resolve to be patient and forbearing,
sweet-tempered and polite, toward her tormentor, and ended it with a
deep sense of humiliating failure, and of having lost something of the
high esteem and admiration in which her almost idolized husband had
been wont to hold her.
Feeling that, more or less of change in her manner toward him was
inevitable; less sure than formerly of his entire approval and ardent
affection, a certain timidity and hesitation crept into her manner of
approaching him, even when they were quite alone together; she grew
sad, silent, and reserved: and he, thinking her sullen and jealous
without reason, ceased to lavish endearments upon her, and, more than
that, half unconsciously allowed both his looks and tones to express
disapprobation and reproof.
That almost broke Zoe's heart; but she strove to hide her wounds from
him, and especially from her tormentor.
The storm kept Edward in the house: at another time that would have
been a joy to Zoe, but now it only added to her troubles, affording
constant opportunity to the wily foe to carry out her evil designs.
On the evening of the second day from the setting in of the storm, Miss

Deane challenged Edward to a game of chess. He accepted at once, and
with an air of quiet satisfaction brought out the board, and placed the
men.
He was fond of the game; but Zoe had never fancied it, and he had
played but seldom since their marriage.
Miss Deane was a more than ordinarily skilful player, and so was he;
indeed, so well matched were they, that neither found it an easy matter
to checkmate the other: and that first game proved a long one,--so long
that Zoe, who had watched its progress with some interest in the
beginning, eager to see Edward win, at length grew so weary as to find
it difficult to keep her eyes open, or refrain from yawning.
But Edward, usually so tenderly careful of her, took no notice,--indeed,
as she said bitterly to herself, seemed to have forgotten her existence.
Still, it was with a thrill of delight that she at length perceived that he
had come off victorious.
Miss Deane took her defeat with very good grace, and smilingly
challenged him to another contest.
"Rather late, isn't it?" he said with a glance at the clock, whose hands
pointed to half-past eleven. "Suppose we sign a truce until to-morrow?"
"Certainly: that will be decidedly best," she promptly replied, following
the direction of his glance. "I feel so fresh, and have enjoyed myself so
much, that I had no idea of the hour, and am quite ashamed of having
kept my youthful hostess up so late," she added, looking sweetly at Zoe.
"Very young people need a large amount of sleep, and can't keep up
health and strength without it."
"You are most