"I doubt whether even there you will not be disappointed. My mother has a strong, warm love for her family; but she does not show it in the way to which you have been accustomed. She is reserved, pent-up. She will sit up with my little sister Nellie six nights in succession; but she never caresses and kisses her as your mother does Lora."
"Never mind," said Louise; "it is not natural for some people to kiss and caress. The sitting up is the most important matter after all, especially when one is sick; though I will own that I am sorry for poor Nellie, without the kisses. Perhaps we can work together: your mother will do the patient caring for, and I will do the kissing. How will that work?"
"I see you are bent on making everything shine with the brightness of your own spirit. But, really and truly, I am afraid I have been dreaming a wild dream in supposing that I could transplant you to such a rough atmosphere. It was ridiculous in my father to put in the proviso that we must live at home. I ought to have resisted it. Because I must spend my days out of doors, travelling over a farm, is no reason why we shouldn't have a home of our own. I think my father is abundantly able to give me a separate start, if he only saw the matter in that light."
"But since he doesn't, we must, like dutiful children, try to see it in his light, until such time as we can win him over to our notions or become full converts to his. I know all about it, Lewis. I don't expect to walk in a garden of roses all the time. I know, too, that to go into farm life is a trial to you. All your plans were in another channel. Yet I am more than glad to give up all those rose-coloured plans for the sake of seeing you look at this moment as strong and well es your summer on a farm has made you. I fully intend to be happy on that farm. I shall have to make a confession to you. Papa talked seriously to me about trying to rent a farm and stock it for us, and do you know I controverted it?"
"I should think so," said Lewis Morgan hastily. "He ought not to spare the money from his business. And, besides, it would be unjust as he is situated."
"Well, I didn't enter into that part of it. I simply said that I thought duty to your father obliged you to yield to his very decided wishes in this matter, and that you and I were both resolved on a thorough trial of it. And, really, I don't apprehend any dreadful consequences. I want to try the experiment of living with my mother-in-law and having a thoroughly good time in doing it. And, Lewis, there is one subject on which we surely can agree. You forget the most important one of all."
He shook his head, and his voice was low and sad.
"No, I don't, Louise. You are mistaken: not one of the family, save myself, is a Christian."
The first shadow that he had seen on his bride's face, when this subject was being discussed, flitted across it now. At last he had startled her.