of these days. And 
he is so good, so good ! Oh, it's a grand  
to be every day more and more proud of one's 
husband !" 

I had forgotten to whom I was speaking  
forgotten the painted face over the -place 
behind me  the poor, weak, handsome face, 
with its self-satisfied smirk, which, wherever 



she sat, she never looked at, though sometimes 
it haunted me dreadfully still. 

"Yes," she answered, in a grave, calm tone, 
neither glancing at it  though it was just oppo- 
site to her  nor away from it. " Yes ; it is a 
good  to be proud  as you are justly proud 
 of your husband." 

I was silent; but I recognized  I, a wife, 
and nearly a mother  as I had never done be- 
fore, how terrible must have been the burden 
the heaviest that can be laid upon any wo- 
man  which this woman had had to take up 
and bear all her life. Ay, and had borne, un- 
shrinkingly, to the end. 

It was this day, I remember  for I seem now 
to remember vividly every day of these last 
weeks  that a strange  happened, which 
I am glad now did happen, and in time for me 
to know