“A mother lives for her children alone,” sighed Mrs. Oliphant. “Even when they are married she cannot lose her interest in them.”
“Certainly not, madam; especially not in so good a daughter as Lilian.”
“It is hard enough to have them removed by marriage from the direct influence of a mother, and to feel that she is no longer a mother in the sense she has been.”
I thought that Mrs. Oliphant had submitted to the marriage of her daughter with tolerable resignation, and would even permit the other two to go to the sacrifice without rebelling against the dictates of fate.
“Of course she can never be entirely removed from a mother’s influence,” I replied, wishing that she could. “You have been very kind and considerate toward us since we were married—to me for Lilian’s sake.”
“And for your own,” she interposed.
“I trust I shall never be ungrateful. I feel called upon to explain my conduct,” I continued. “You remember, when we returned from our bridal tour that something was said about boarding. We could not find such accommodations as we desired, and you were so kind as to offer to accommodate us till we could obtain a house, or make other arrangements.”
“Yes, I remember,” replied Mrs. Oliphant. “I don’t take boarders, but I was willing to do what I could for Lilian’s comfort and happiness.”
“You were, madam; and I was very grateful to you for your consideration, both to Lilian and to me. You intimated that it would not be convenient for you to take us to board, but you were willing to sacrifice your own comfort and your own feelings to oblige us. I was very sorry indeed that the circumstances compelled us to trespass upon your kindness. You did us a favor for which I shall never cease to be grateful. But I did not feel willing to compel you to submit to the inconvenience of boarding us any longer than was absolutely necessary. My gratitude compelled me, when I found a house, to take it, and relieve you at once from all the care and responsibility which your self-sacrificing nature had imposed upon you.”
“And without even permitting me to see the house in which I was to live!” exclaimed Lilian, coming to the assistance of her mother, who seemed to be thrown into disorder by my tactics.