Luke's wife

by Evelyn R. Garratt

Rachel looking at Gwen's earnest and rather anxious face repented that she had been so stern with her. After all she was only an ignorant child. She could not expect an old head on young shoulders; besides, Gwen was always putting her foot into it, talking of things about which she really knew nothing. The family took her sayings for what they were worth and laughed at them. She wished she had not taken her so seriously.

But the fact was, that Rachel was conscious that Luke sometimes surprised her by not doing what he would have done during their courtship. He had been very chivalrous in those days, and more careful of her than was necessary. Now he often let her do things for him which he would in those days have done for her. At times the consciousness of this had a little hurt her; he seemed to have lost, where she was concerned, his old world courtesy. She remembered feeling ashamed when Mrs. Stone had come to tea, that he had let her, his wife, do all the waiting while he sat still and talked. He was so interested in his conversation that he had never noticed it.

But these were such very little things after all, that Rachel had made up her mind not to notice them. However, the fact that Gwen had noticed them made her feel sore and somewhat indignant with her sister. But glancing again at the child who had tears in her eyes at the thought that Rachel was wasted on Luke, anger fled, and an amused smile took its place.

"Oh Gwen dear," she said, "I wish you could see how ridiculous you are. What do all those little things matter when people love one another as Luke and I love? You see you are too young to understand. I really advise you to put away your silly imaginations." She ended up with a laugh.

"Well then," said Gwen, "I will give you advice, rather than Luke. Why don't you teach him what to do?"

Rachel laughed out loud. "Don't be foolish," she said.

"I'm not foolish," said Gwen earnestly. "But I have read, and I think it is probably true, that a woman can make a man what she wants him to be."

"Explain yourself," said Rachel amused.

"I mean that you should teach him to remember that as a husband he is bound to follow your wishes. Tell him, for instance, to fetch the coals for you; to open the door when you have your hands full; and to hand the tea about when you have people. I have noticed that Mrs. Graham, who has one of the best of husbands, does this, and the consequence is that he waits on her as if he were her slave. You know, Rachel, at present you are Luke's slave."

"Well now you have done your lecture," said Rachel good-humouredly, "So we'll go out, and I hope to hear no more of it; but I feel strongly you ought to ask Luke's pardon for what must have struck him as great impertinence."