She greeted Golden very kindly, feeling ashamed of her petulance of the evening before, when she saw how patiently she was ministering to the comfort of her little daughter.
Little Ruby was suffering with a headache this morning. She lay on a silken lounge, with her head propped on pillows, and Golden was bathing the hot temples with eau de cologne.
"Are you still pleased with your nurse, my darling?" inquired her mother.
"Oh, yes, mamma. Mary is the kindest nurse I ever had," answered Ruby, lifting her heavy eyes tenderly to Golden's sweet face.
"I am very glad to hear it," said her mother. "Does your head ache too bad for you to take your morning drive with me, dear?"
"Oh, no, I think it will be better when I get out in the air," said Ruby, with a brightening face. "Shall we take my nurse with us?"
"Not this morning, I think, as I shall drive the pony-phaeton, and there is only room for two."
"Will not papa go then?" said the child, disappointed.
"No; he has a business engagement, and cannot accompany us. You see we are going to the seaside next week, and he has a great many things to see to first," Mrs. Desmond answered, with the child's disappointment reflected on her own beautiful face.
She loved her husband with the devotion of a strong, intense nature, and begrudged every moment he spent away from her side.