"What do you mean?"
"To take her home with me and provide teachers for her; to let Hannah fit her for a housekeeper; and allow the poor child some of the freedom from care, other children of her age enjoy."
"She wouldn't consent."
And this was true. When her brother proposed it, offering to persuade Paul to allow her to go back with him for a year or more; she answered seriously:
"He is my husband; and I have no right to leave him. I know he has not had much comfort in his home; but Marion is going to teach me to be a better wife; and I want to try at least to do right."
Our part of Gertrude's new régime was to walk out for, at least, an hour before dinner. She usually accompanied Marion to market; and together they made their purchases for the next day, the articles being sent home in the evening. In the course of a month she could select a suitable piece for roasting or boiling, could judge which was tough or tender, and was every day growing more skilful in the purchase of household supplies.
"If I only knew when Paul would dine at home," she said one day to her young teacher, "I could surprise him with a nice dinner; but I suppose it is dull for him to leave all those gentlemen just for poor, stupid me."
This summer was the most profitable, and in some respects the happiest, Gertrude had ever passed. To be sure her health was delicate; and there were many days when if she had yielded to the lassitude which oppressed her, she would not have risen from her couch; but she was beginning to find the reward of those who try to please their Saviour. She went to her heavenly Father as a loving child does to an earthly one, pleading his promise that all things, to them who love him shall work together for good. In a dim way her childish heart was learning to rest on him, and to feel that the discipline she was passing through, was what she needed for the perfection of her character. She had not the slightest idea that these exercises were gracious ones, giving evidence, that she was renewed in the spirit and temper of her mind; and often in talking with Dr. Gilbert, whom she had come to revere above every other earthly friend, she said, in her frank, artless way:
"If I were a Christian I should not find it so hard to keep evil thoughts out of my mind. It would be easy to remember when I am angry, that Jesus returned not a word to the railing of his enemies."
Instructed by her kind pastor, Gerty was learning that the warfare between indwelling sin and a yearning after holiness would have to be maintained as long as we are in a wicked world; but that the victories the child of God achieves, yield to the soul a sweet peace which all the pleasures of the earth can never give.