"It is my first husband."
James Talbot glanced curiously at the picture. He was displeased to notice that the portrait represented such a handsome man—a man with whom he was not to be compared.
"He was generally considered a fine-looking man," remarked the bride.
"Humph! Tastes differ. No doubt he was a good man, but I don't consider him handsome."
Through the open door Jane heard this remark, and took instant offense, for she had liked Mr. Frost, who was always kind to her.
"He didn't look a gorilla, as you do," she said to herself, and would like to have said aloud.
Meanwhile Robert went down to the village. He was the prey of contending emotions. It looked as if all the happiness of their quiet home was gone. This man—this interloper—would spoil it all.
"How could mother marry him?" he said to himself.
But in spite of his dissatisfaction, he felt hungry. There was a restaurant in the village, and he turned in there. He felt that on this day at least he could not dine at home.
He sat down at the table beside Mr. Jameson, a jeweler, and an old friend of the family. The jeweler regarded Robert with surprise.