"
Zoe was in a defiant mood. She walked away without making any reply, and
an hour later Edward met her riding out with Ralph by her side. Max was
not with them, as it was during his study hours, and they had not even an
attendant.
They had been laughing and chatting gayly, but at sight of Edward a sudden
silence fell on them.
Zoe's head drooped and her cheeks flushed hotly as she perceived the dark
frown on her husband's brow. She expected some cutting word of rebuke, but
he simply wheeled his horse about, placing himself on her other side, so
that she was between him and Ralph, and rode on with them.
Not a word was spoken until they drew rein at their own door, when Edward,
dismounting, lifted his wife from her pony, and as he set her down, said,
"I will be obliged to you, Zoe, if you will now prepare your lessons for
to-day."
Zoe had already begun to repent of her open disregard of his wishes, for
during the silent ride memory had been busy with the many expressions of
love and tenderness he had lavished upon her in their short married life,
and if there had been the least bit of either in his tones now, she would
have whispered in his ear that she was sorry and would not so offend
again; but the cold, stern accents made the request sound like a command,
and roused again the spirit of opposition that had almost died out.
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