Elsies Kith and Kin | Page 9

kind," said Zoe, a touch of sarcasm in her tones: "it must
be a very sympathetic nature that has enabled you to remember so long
how young people feel."
A twinkle of fun shone in Edward's eyes at that.

Miss Deane colored furiously, bade a hasty good-night, and departed to
her own room.
"That was a rather hard thrust, my dear," remarked Edward, laughing,
as he led the way into their dressing-room; "not quite polite, I'm
afraid."
"I don't care if it wasn't!" said Zoe. "She is always twitting me on my
extreme youth."
"Sour grapes," he said lightly: "she will never see twenty-five again,
and would give a great deal for your youth. And since you are exactly
the age to suit me, why should you care a fig for her sneers?"
"I don't, when I seem to suit you in all respects," returned Zoe with
tears in her voice.
Her back was toward him; but he caught sight of her face in a mirror,
and saw that tears were also glistening in her eyes.
Putting his arm round her waist, and drawing her to him, "I don't want a
piece of perfection for my wife," he said; "she would be decidedly too
great a contrast to her husband: and I have never yet seen the woman or
girl I should be willing to take in exchange for the one belonging to me.
And I'm very sure such a one doesn't exist."
"How good in you to say it!" she said, clinging about his neck, and
lifting to his, eyes shining with joy and love. "O Ned! we were so
happy by ourselves!"
"So we were," he assented, "and so we may hope to be again very
soon."
"Not so very, I'm afraid," she answered with a rueful shake of the head;
"for just hark how it is storming still!"
"Yes; but it may be all over by morning. How weary you look, love!
Get to bed as fast as you can. You should not have waited for the

conclusion of that long game, that, I know, did not interest you."
"I was interested for your sake," she said, "and so glad to see you win."
"Wife-like," he returned with a smile, adding, "It was a very close
game, and you needn't be surprised to see me beaten in the next battle."
"I'm afraid she will stay for that, even if the storm is over," sighed Zoe.
"Dear me! I don't see how anybody can have the face to stay where she
is self-invited, and must know she isn't a welcome guest to the lady of
the house. I'd go through any storm rather than prolong a visit under
such circumstances."
"You would never have put yourself in such a position," Edward said.
"But I wish you could manage to treat her with a little more cordiality. I
should feel more comfortable. I could not avoid bringing her here, as
you know; nor can I send her away in such inclement weather, or,
indeed, at all, till she offers to go; and your want of courtesy toward
her--to put it mildly--is a constant mortification to me."
"Why don't you say at once that you are ashamed of me?" she
exclaimed, tears starting to her eyes again, as with a determined effort
she freed herself from his grasp, and moved away to the farther side of
the room.
"I am usually very proud of you," he answered in a quiet tone; "but this
woman seems to exert a strangely malign influence over you."
To that, Zoe made no response; she could not trust herself to speak; so
prepared for bed, and laid herself down there in silence, wiped away a
tear or two, and presently fell asleep.
Morning brought no abatement of the storm, and consequently no relief
to Zoe from the annoyance of Miss Deane's presence in the house.
On waking, she found that Edward had risen before her; she heard him
moving about in the dressing-room; then he came to the door, looked in,
and, seeing her eyes open, said, "Ah, so you are awake! I hope you

slept well? I'm sorry for your sake that it is still storming."
"Yes, I slept soundly, thank you; and as for the storm, I'll just have to
try to bear with it and its consequences as patiently as possible," she
sighed.
"A wise resolve, my dear. I hope you will try to carry it out." he
returned. "Now I must run away, and leave you to make your toilet, as I
have some little matters to attend to before breakfast."
She made no reply; and he passed out of the room, and down the stairs.
"Poor little woman!" he said to himself: "she looks depressed, though
usually she is so bright and cheery.