"Ah," he said presently, with a sigh that betrayed more than he was aware
of, "my father was a happy man in having such a woman for his wife!"
"A good husband makes a good wife, my boy," she returned, gazing
searchingly yet tenderly into his eyes; "and I think no woman with any
heart at all could have failed to be such to him."
"I am not worthy to be his son," he murmured, the hot blood mounting to
his very hair.
There was a moment or more of silence, then she said, softly caressing his
hair and cheek as she spoke, "Edward, my son, be very patient, very
gentle, forbearing and loving toward the orphan child, the care of whom
you assumed of your own free will, the little wife you have promised to
love and cherish to life's end."
"Yes, mother, I have tried very earnestly to be all that to her--but she
is such a child that she needs guidance and control, and I cannot let her
show disrespect to you or my grandfather."
"She has always been both dutiful and affectionate to me, Ned, and I have
never known her to say a disrespectful word to or about your grandfather."
"Did you not notice the looks she gave him at the table, to-night? the
tone in which she replied when he spoke to her?"
"I tried not to do so," she said with a smile.
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