“You have grown plumper and rosier in the last three years, my dear. I should scarcely recognize in you the pale, delicate young bride whom I gave away to the worthy doctor. Ah! I see how it is! He has enforced the laws of health,” said the squire, as he warmly shook her hand.
“Yes; that is it,” replied Natalie. “He makes my life a burden to me with régime and hygiene.”
At this moment Le and Odalite walked into the room.
Le shook hands with the rector and his wife, while Odalite literally threw herself into the arms of Natalie.
And a few minutes later, when she had greeted all her parents’ guests, she went upstairs with young Mrs. Ingle to feast her eyes on the sleeping babies over which Elva was proudly and tenderly watching.
There the two friends sat down and had a good, long talk—all about the young doctor’s prospects, the young couple’s home, the neighbors, and so forth; but not once did they speak of Odalite’s trials. Odalite herself never alluded to the subject, nor did Natalie dare to do so.
And it may here be said that the reticence which was observed in the seclusion of the bedchamber was practiced in the social circle of the drawing room.
Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Force mentioned the subject of their family troubles, nor could their guests venture to do so.
Elfrida dreaded the indiscreet tongue of the lady from Wild Cats’; so she was greatly relieved, when she went out to caution Mrs. Anglesea, to hear that honest woman say:
“Let’s try to be jolly this one day, and forget all about my rascal and our troubles! ’Deed, do you know I have told everybody in this county how he treated me, so that they all know it as well as their a b c? And that’s a rhyme come out of time. I didn’t intend it, but I can’t mend it. I say! hold on here! there is something the matter with my headpiece! I never composed no poetry before and didn’t mean to do it now! It come out so itself! But you needn’t be afeard of me talking about Skallawag Anglesea! I’m sick to death of the name of him!” concluded the lady from the mines.