Luke's wife

by Evelyn R. Garratt

Rachel was feeling stronger so that the conversation with her mother-in-law did not trouble her as it might have done. It almost amused her.

That Luke could possibly be wasting his time in his study was so absurd an idea that it made her smile. She had sometimes wondered herself at the amount of writing he was engaged in doing; but she had not asked him about it, as one of his peculiarities was the fact that he did not care to be questioned about his work. That she would know in time she had not a doubt. That he was doing anything that she did not know about did not make her either curious or restless. Apparently it had that effect on her mother-in-law.

Rachel had noticed that since coming to live with them Mrs. Greville had shown a propensity for wishing to know exactly what everyone in the house was doing. She wandered from room to room just to see what was going on. The servants were not the only people who found it trying. Rachel felt it getting on her own nerves. She put it down to a restlessness arising from Mrs. Greville's illness, but this did not make it less trying. She could seldom enjoy little Pat for long by himself. Mrs. Greville, under the impression that she was helping, would come into the nursery while Rachel bathed the child, giving her various hints as to the best way of doing it. Or she would take up a great deal of her time giving out her theories on the bringing up of children, while Rachel was busy putting him to bed. It was just as much as Rachel could do in her present state of health to dress and undress the child, and at times she had to pass over what was to her such a happy duty to Polly, so that to be talked to, and to have to listen to various theories on the training of children, was tiring in the extreme. But she felt she must bear it without complaining as Mrs. Greville had so little in which to occupy her time, and if she was shown that her advice was not welcome she would grow melancholy.

But till to-day Rachel had had no idea that Luke had found it trying. His study door was open that evening when after putting Pat to sleep she went down stairs. At the sound of her footstep, he called her in, closing the door after her. He was looking a little worried and distressed.

"I'm afraid I have hurt my mother," he said, "but I find it so difficult to get on with my work while she is in the room. Three times this afternoon she has interrupted me at the most unfortunate moment. I try not to let her know it, but I can't make out what she wants. I fancy it's only a chat, and I can't chat about nothing in the middle of my work."

"She has not enough to do," said Rachel, "and feels dull I expect."

"That's unfortunate," said Luke, running his fingers through his hair. "I'm sorry for her. But I had to tell her I was doing some important work to-day and that I was sorry to say I could not have a chat just then. I'm afraid I've hurt her. I think," he added, "that my mother has altered a little since her illness. She used to have such tact."

"It would help matters if you could tell her what the important business is," said Rachel, laughing.

"I don't much want to tell her," he said. "I'm afraid she would be constantly referring to it and I could not stand that. You see dear," he said looking down at his wife with shining eyes, "I believe I have found my work."

"Your work?" said Rachel mystified.