"'Their words are smoother than oil, but in their mouths is a drawn

sword,'" quoted Mrs. Sutton, in meek protest against the sugared

malice of this slander when it was told to her. "This is none of

Mabel's doings. She loves me dearly as ever, but one might as well

hope to move the Blue Ridge as to teach that pragmatical husband of

hers to consult her wishes and her good, before he does his own. His

head is hard as a flint, and his heart--never mind! Heaven forgive

me if I am unjust to him! I should be thankful that he does not

really mean to misuse my darling. Now, my dears, you see how

undesirable an inmate of any house I am rated to be. If you wish to

retract your offer of a hiding-place for my old head, I shall not

take it amiss. Thanks to Providence and my dear Frederic I have

enough, to maintain me decently anywhere in this country. I shall

never be chargeable to anybody for my food, victuals, and lodgings.

If you are willing to let me board here and do odd stitches for the

children when they tear their aprons and rub out the knees of their

trowsers--just to keep me out of mischief, you understand!--I

promise to be as little officious in housewifely concerns as it is

in my nature to be."

William Sutton and his wife--a woman who was both sagacious and

amiable--reiterated their assurances that she could not confer a

greater boon upon them than by remaining where she was, and with

them she had stayed until Mr. Aylett sent over the Ridgeley

carriage, one day in the third week in February, with a note from

Mabel, begging her aunt to present herself, without needless delay,

at the homestead, since she was not reckoned sufficiently strong to

attempt the uneven and muddy roads that still separated them. Mrs.

Aylett also dispatched a billet by the coachman, the graceful burden

of which was the same as that of Mabel's petition, and the two

long-sundered friends were speedily together; fellow-partakers of a

bountiful and painstaking hospitality, which kept them continually

in mind that they were guests, and not at home.

The dialogue relative to Rosa Tazewell's matrimonial project took

place on the third day of Mrs. Sutton's visit, in Mabel's chamber,

and when the former, having talked off the topmost bubbles of her

righteous wrath, recollected several very important

letters--business and friendly--she ought to have written a week

ago, and trotted off to her room where she could perform the

neglected duty without visible and outward temptation to that she

was more fond of doing--to wit, talking--the young wife continued

to work steadily, and with apparent composure. It was not a bright

face on which the light from the western windows fell, yet it was

not unhappy. She had never pretended to herself that her marriage

was a step toward happiness, but she had believed that it would

secure to her a larger share of peace, immunity from disturbance,

and independence of thought and action, than fell to her lot in her

brother's house, and for these negative benefits she longed wearily.




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