Contrary Mary

It had been decided that, for a time at least, Gordon and Constance

should stay with Mary. In the spring they would again go back to

London. Grace Clendenning and Aunt Frances were already installed for

the winter at their hotel.

The young couple would occupy the Sanctum and the adjoining room, and

Mary was to take on an extra maid to help Susan Jenks.

In all her planning, Mary had a sense of the pervasiveness of Gordon

Richardson. With masculine confidence in his ability, he took upon

himself not only his wife's problems, but Mary's. Mary was forced to

admit, even while she rebelled, that his judgments were usually wise.

Yet, she asked herself, what right had an outsider to dictate in

matters which pertained to herself and Barry? And what right had he to

offer her board for Constance? Constance, who was her very own?

But when she had indignantly voiced her objection to Gordon, he had

laughed. "You are like all women, Mary," he had said, "and of course I

appreciate your point of view and your hospitality. But if you think

that I am going to let my wife stay here and add to your troubles and

expense without giving adequate compensation, you are vastly mistaken.

If you won't let us pay, we won't stay, and that's all there is to it."

Here was masculine firmness against which Mary might rage impotently.

After all, Constance was Gordon's wife, and he could carry her off.

"Of course," she said, yielding stiffly, "you must do as you think

best."

"I shall," he said, easily, "and I will write you a check now, and you

can have it to settle any immediate demands upon your exchequer. I

shall be away a good deal, and I want Constance to be with you and Aunt

Isabelle. It is a favor to me, Mary, to have her here. You mustn't

add to my obligations by making me feel too heavily in your debt."

He smiled as he said it, and Gordon had a nice smile. And presently

Mary found herself smiling back.

"Gordon," she said, in a half apology, "Porter calls me Contrary Mary.

Maybe I am--but you see, Constance was my sister before she was your

wife."

He leaned back in his chair and looked at her. "And you've had twenty

years more of her than I--but please God, Mary, I am going to have

twenty beautiful years ahead of me to share with her--I hope it may be

three times twenty."