CHAPTER XXXI. 66 THE WIFE'S PLEA. "I said I would love thee in want or in wealth, Through cloud and through sunshine, in sickness, in health; MAGGIE'S intelligence in the township-that if only the pastor's consent could be won, that of his wife's was already attained, and that she was by no means averse to the plans, and intended to use her influence with her husband-was received very gladly, and next evening a deputation of the ladies of the neighbourhood paid her a visit. Mr. Owen was still absent. Emily was very glad of that, for now she could quietly possess herself of all particulars, and weigh well the prospect before she discussed the matter with her husband, and favourable enough they seemed if she could bring him to think so. The school would certainly nicely augment their income, and procure them many comforts, if she could manage it. The house provided was a good and pleasant one, situated at the extremity of the township, and in good repair. So far, all was well, but Emily would decide upon nothing without her husband's consent. Labour enough she knew she should have—that worst of labour, the mental; and another thing, she sorrowfully thought of, she should be less in her husband's company when he was at home. Less with her baby-her little precious rosebud-the care of that must in a great measure devolve on Jenny. But from all this she did not shrink, if by it she could but take away some of the trouble that rested so heavily on Gilbert's spirits. "I shall manage it, yet," she thought, with a smile, “and it will be better. If the people will not support their minister, he must live, and I can manage this-manage it better at any rate than I could living without Jenny's help, with all the rough work to do with my own hands." It was not so easy to bring her husband to think as she did, however. Yet how tenderly she pleaded with him-pleaded her promise to be his help in poverty or wealth, and entreated him to allow her to fulfil that promise. "It will be so pleasant, dear Gilbert, to be less dependent on these people," she winningly urged; "so pleasant to be getting something without their aid. You will let me have my way, and then you know, dear, in the winter I shall not have to stay at home, like I did last, we shall be such a short distance from chapel. After three o'clock, too, my dayschool duties will be over." "And what do you think your brother will say to such a proceeding?" "Say?-why, that I do quite right, I know he will," said Emily laughing. "Ask him," said Gilbert, laconically. She had an opportunity of doing that before long, and most daintily did she spread out the case before him. 66 I confess I'm sorry Em, that you've got to do it, that's a fact," he said, bluntly enough; "and rather than I'd preach to such ungrateful people, I'd sweep a crossing first. But since you've got among such a set (the more's the pity), stick to your colours, sis— you've promised to be a helpmeet to Gilbert; be one, my girl-as well this way as any other that I see! As to Rosie, the gipsy! we'll look out for her, and for all the little Owens in the futuremay be." And so Gilbert Owen had to yield, it was no use holding out; the general opinion, backed so strongly by his loving little wife, was too strong for him; perhaps, too, diminishing funds, and the fear of seeing her reduced to work far more difficult to accomplish, had the greatest influence over him. Be that as it may, his reluctant consent was at length given, the new house was put under a regular course of cleaning, a week or two more being all that was allotted Emily to spend in the quiet dear little home, and its pleasant surroundings that had become so dear to her. "After all," she thought, "we are going together, and love can make any place pleasant. In a little time the other house may be as dear as this nearly as dear," she added, with a wistful look round at the little rooms she was beginning to strip of their pretty ornaments, and a wistful look back to the past-those very happy first months of her married life, when not a single cloud loomed over the hemisphere, all was so bright and fair. She took good care that none of those wistful, regretful lookings back to the past should occur in Gilbert's presence. Cheerfully, hopefully, she talked to him of the future till she inspired him with new hope, and sent him forward on his work with fresher energy, fresher life than he had experienced for many a day. "I will be with thee in all places whithersoever thou goest," were words that helped Emily forward wonderfully whenever she felt her spirits flagging. "Lose what we may," she thought, "no one can take from us our Father's love and care. Surely, if He is where we are, He will provide all that is good or needful for us." And steadily she went on with her packing, singing as she went,— "There are briars besetting every path, Which call for patient care; There is a cross in every lot, And an earnest need of prayer : But a lowly heart, that leans on Thee, "I should very much like all this moving' to be done while Mr. Owen is away, Maggie; do you think we could manage it ?” "I'm sure we could," said Maggie, joyfully. "I'll speak to father about it, and he'll help, and one of the men, too. We can do it quite easily in one day." "I shall be so glad if we can," said Emily. "I know the thought of this moving depresses him, and he will feel more reconciled to our new home when he finds everything in order as usual." "I'm sure we can do it. Oh, how nice that will be! Then we can get father to tell him to call at our house before he goes home on his return. How surprised he will be." "Yes, and pleased too, I think. Thank you, my dear little helper." Little Gilbert thought, as he took a survey of his little premises before his departure for a two-days' absence, that he was bidding a quiet farewell to his pleasant little home, and that on his return his new abode would be waiting to receive him. out. "Don't do too much, Emmy, and tire yourself Leave the chief of the packing for me when I come back," were his parting words. Emily laughed merrily. "Leave it for him, indeed!" she exclaimed, after watching him off. "We know better than that; do we not, Maggie?" and, after that, preparation for the morning's remove went swimmingly forward. It was well that Emily possessed a young and buoyant spirit; it was better still that her trust in the 'Guide' was firm-for assuredly the clouds had gathered over the atmosphere of her married life and her happy little home, and her fond dreams of quiet home instruction for her sweet little Rosie were all dissolved. And yet even Maggie did not know how much she felt in quitting her pretty home; did not guess how dear the very flowers in the garden had become to her, and how hard it was to leave a place where, on every side, were so many evidences of her husband's love and care, his labour for her pleasure and comfort. Mrs. Gordon had |