Sunday evening supper, which to me has always been a most attractive meal, was usually taken either with my family or at Mr. Sherman's. Occasionally we would attend an evening service, but as a rule we would get home early and have a few hours to ourselves.
Our year of separation while engaged had to be atoned for.
We were lovers the first year of our wedded life, and after all these years we are, no less ardently, lovers still.
CHAPTER VI
THE FIRST REVERSE OF FORTUNE.
The Christmas holidays of 1872 were at hand and I was in full spirit with the festivities of the season.
My home life was a constant revelation of delight and happiness.
The income from my business had increased to double that of the previous year, and the future looked bright indeed.
Just at this time came to me in an evil hour a temptation to which I yielded, and I have always wondered how, under all the conditions then existing, I could have been so weak.
My accumulations had not been invested, and as I had in my business no use for capital, the money remained idle in bank.