But discontent is bred in the bone and needs no outward influence or surroundings to foster its soul destroying germs.
Elizabeth had grown into womanhood, beautiful in form and feature, loyal in heart and spotless in her maidenly purity, but the seeds of discontent, inherited or otherwise, sprang up in her heart and took from every pleasure that fullness of joy which is so necessary to perfect happiness.
It was her suggestion to rent the superfluous rooms thereby adding to the family exchequer and at the same time increasing her household duties.
The logic was excellent, but the impulse of a dissatisfied mind prompted the suggestion and evil impulses, however logical, are rarely productive of good results.
This particular instance was a most conclusive proof of the veracity of such reasoning.
For a few brief weeks Elizabeth's heart was filled with content and peace. With her additional labor came renewed ambition and the results seemed highly satisfactory to all concerned.
Then, as time passed on and the young man who occupied the rooms found many and varied excuses for seeking her presence, the roses on Elizabeth's cheeks deepened into carnation, her eyes flashed with a new born glory, and from morn till night the tender song of the nightingale burst joyously from her lips.
The young man had occupied the rooms for nearly a year and his devotion to their grandchild had been constantly growing more marked.
But for the past few months the song had ceased on Elizabeth's lips and the rosy cheeks were growing steadily paler.