"
"Allow me to advise you to deliver Ned a lecture on the subject, cousin,"
laughed Ralph.
"He doesn't need it," Zoe exclaimed with spirit, turning on Ralph with
flashing eyes.
"Oh," he said, with a loud guffaw, "I should have remembered that any one
taking the part of an abused wife is sure to have her wrath turned upon
himself."
"What do you mean by that, sir? I am _not_ an abused wife," said Zoe,
tears springing to her eyes; "there never was a kinder, tenderer husband
than mine, and I know he loves me dearly."
"He does, indeed, dear; we none of us doubt that in the least; and so you
can well afford to let Ralph enjoy his forlorn joke," remarked Mrs.
Dinsmore, with an indignant, reproving look at the latter, who colored
under it, and relapsed into silence.
The weather was delightful, and the children having been given a half
holiday, spent the afternoon in the grounds. Zoe forsook the company of
the older people for theirs, and joined in their sports, for she was still
child-like in her tastes.
She was as active as a boy, and before her marriage had taken keen delight
in climbing rocks and trees.
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