“Paul is without doubt the best son I have ever known, for although he has loved Scoris all these years, yet he has stuck to me.”
Mrs. Vivian replied: “Yes, but there were two in that bargain, you must admit. Possibly if Scoris had not had me to think of after Geron had lost my income, you would have had another daughter long before now.”
“Well, she would have been just as welcome as she is now, bless her dear heart. I am as proud of her as you are.”
“Did you not think Helen looked very pretty in her bridal robe?”
“Oh, yes, indeed, but to tell you the truth, I hardly saw any one but Paul and Scoris,” Mrs. Arling answered. “They both looked so happy. I think Scoris the handsomest bride I ever saw.”
“Isn’t that funny,” replied Lady Vivian, “Mrs. Carry, Prince Charley’s sister, made the same remark about Helen.”
“Certainly, ‘every crow thinks his own the blackest.’”
“Well, now, what do you think yourself, Mrs. Vivian?
“Oh, I don’t know. They are so different,” continued their mother, “for to me they have always been beautiful, each in her own way, and their characters equally so. Did you know, Mrs. Arling, those girls turned all their own permanent shares over to my account before Tom knew that Geron had lost either his own or my income? Besides this, they gave up a portion of their salary for me each week. The other members of the family have made it up to them in the last year and I appreciate it, but after all, it was their self-denial that proved their affection for me.”
