CHAPTER I.AN EFFORT TO BEGIN RIGHT-A WISE DECISION.

JAMES HARTLEY had been married three weeksthree of the happiest weeks he had ever spent ; but happier far was his lovely young bride. A form of affection, as every woman is, she could love more deeply, and feel a more intense delight in loving. The more closely she looked into her husband's mind, and the clearer she saw and understood the moral qualities by which it was adorned, the purer and more elevated was her love.

They sat alone, side by side, as the day was drawing to a close, the hand of the wife resting, confidingly, in that of her husband. They were yet in the family of the bride's father, who would not hear of their going away.

"It is plenty of time these three or four months to come for Anna to take upon herself the cares of domestic life," he would say, whenever any allusion was made by either his daughter or her husband to their intention of going to housekeeping.

But both James Hartley and his bride thought differ

E

ently, as a conversation that passed between them some few days previously will show.

"We have been married now for nearly a month, 'Anna," remarked Hartley; " and it is full time that we began our preparations for housekeeping."

"A thing, you know, that father will not consent to our doing."

"So it seems.

But is it right for us to remain here longer than is necessary to make proper arrangements for getting into our own house ?"

"Is there any reason why we should hurry these ar rangements?" returned Anna.

"None in the least. We should make them deliberately and wisely."

"And may they not be made as well three months hence as now ?"

"You shall answer that question yourself," replied Hartley, smiling. "We are now husband and wife." A light, like the flitting of a sun-ray over the face of Anna, was the response to this affirmation.

"As such," continued the husband, "we occupy a new, peculiar, and distinct position in society. The sphere of our influence is a different one from what it was. All who approach us are affected differently from what they formerly were. You can understand why this is so ?"

"Clearly. All new relations make a corresponding impression on society. The influence of the maiden is one thing, and the influence of the wife another."

"And they act in different spheres."

"Yes.

One is on the circumference of the family circle, so to speak, the other in the centre,"

"The exact truth. Now, what position does a wife occupy in a family circle of which she is not the centre? An orderly one ?"

Anna shook her head.

"If not an orderly one, then not the most useful one -not the true one."

"But I, as a wife, would make both centre and circumference in the family circle now. Or, rather, you and I would."

"Even admitting this, which is not exactly clear, we would both be in truer order than when on the circumference and not in the centre at the same time. You will admit that?"

"I cannot help doing so."

“And if in truer order, in a better way of acting usefully in the world."

"Yes."

"Then, as husband and wife, can we too soon take our true social position? I think not. Life's duties are not so few, that any of them can safely be neglected for a single day. It is very pleasant to live here, without a thought or care about external things. But I am not at all sure that it is good for either of us."

"Nor am I, now that I fully comprehend your views, which I see to be correct in every particular. Father and mother will regret our leaving them, I know. But you are now my husband, and I am ready, when I see truth in your rational mind, to stand up by your side in obedience to the truth, even though all the world should be offended."

1

Which, of course, they will not be, at our doing so

sensible a thing as going to housekeeping in a month or two after our marriage."

Anna smiled sweetly into her husband's face, as he replied thus playfully to her earnestly-expressed senti

ment.

From that time their resolution was taken.

On the occasion referred to in the opening of this chapter, the subject of conversation was their intention of making early preparations for getting into their own house. On the day previous, they had conversed seriously with Anna's father and mother, who, much against their will, could not help yielding a rational consent to the reasons offered by their children for the resolution to take their true place in society.

"There is now a very good house in Walnut Street to rent, which, I think, will just suit us," remarked Hartley, while they sat, hand and hand, as we have seen. "I looked through it to-day, and find that it has every convenienee that could be desired. It is just below street."

"One of those large, handsome houses?"

Anna made no reply, but sat with her eyes cast thoughtfully to the floor. She not only had no wish to go into so large and expensive a house, but felt an instant reluctance at the thought of doing so. She had no certain knowledge in regard to her husband's worldly circumstances, but she did not believe that he was rich. She had been living with her father in a plain and comfortable

style, and did not think of anything greatly supe

rior.

Hartley looked earnestly into the face of his young wife, and sought to read its expression.

"How do you like the house I mention ?" he at length said.

Here came a trial for Anna, the trial of not agreeing with her husband. Her wish was to yield, in all things, her will to his; but, unless her judgment approve, sho could not so yield with a clear conscience. In this matter, her judgment did not approve, and she felt an acute pain at the thought of objecting to his proposal. With an effort, and a look that asked forgiveness for opposition, she said

"It is a very handsome house. But"

And she hesitated, while a warm glow suffused her face.

"But what, dear?" The kindness with which this was spoken, re-assured Anna, who felt an inward dread of the effects of opposition. The idea that she should ever be called upon to differ from her husband in anything requiring concert of action, had, until now, never crossed her mind.

"Don't you think the rent too high?" she said, in a suggestive tone.

"Not for the house. It is a very excellent one, and there is not a more desirable situation, I think, in the city."

"But for us to pay, I mean?"

Hartley looked again earnestly into the face of his wife so earnestly that her eyes dropped beneath his fixed