Mary had to get ready for these unexpected guests, whose appetites proved equal to a raid on a good many things besides bread and butter.Mrs.Fry said, after she had devoured nearly half a loaf of cake, that she would really try to eat a morsel more, which Ernest remarked, dryly, was a great triumph of mind over matter.As they talked and 'laughed and ate leisurely on, Mary stood looking the picture of despair.At last I gave her a glance that said she might go, when a new visitor was announced-Mrs.Winthrop, from Brooklyn, one of Ernest's patients a few years ago, when she lived here.She professed herself greatly indebted to him, and said she had come at this hour because she should make sure of seeing him.I tried to excuse him, as I knew he would be thankful to have me do, but no, see him she must; he was her "pet doctor," he had such "sweet, bedside manners," and "I am such a favorite with him, you know!"Ernest did not receive his "favorite" with any special warmth; but invited her out to lunch and gallanted her to the table we had just left.Just like a man! Poor Mary! she had to fly round and get up what she could; Mrs.Winthrop devoted herself to Ernest with a persistent ignoring of me that I thought rude and unwomanly.She asked if he had read a certain book; he had not; she then said, "Ineed not ask, then, if Mrs.Elliott has done so? These charming dishes, which she gets up so nicely, must absorb all her time." "Of course," replied Ernest."But she contrives to read the reports of all the murders, of which the newspapers are full."Mrs.Winthrop took this speech literally, drew away her skirts from me, looked at me through her eye-glass, and said, "Yes?" At last she departed.Helen came home, and Mary went.I gave Helen an account of my morning; she laughed heartily, and it did me good to hear that musical sound once more.
"It is nearly five o'clock," I said, as we at last had restored everything to order, "and this whole day has been frittered away in the veriest trifles.It isn't living to live so.Who is the better for my being in the world since six o'clock this morning?""I am for one," she said, kissing my hot cheeks; "and you have given a great deal of pleasure to several persons.Your and Ernest's hospitality is always graceful.I admire it in you both; and this is one of the little ways, not to be despised, of giving enjoyment." It was nice in her to say that, it quite rested me.
At the dinner-table Ernest complimented me on my good housekeeping.
"I was proud of my little wife at lunch" he said.
"And yet you said that outrageous thing about my reading about nothing but murders!" I said.
"Oh, well, you understood it," he said, laughingly.
"But that dreadful Mrs.Winthrop took it literally.""What do we care for Mrs.Winthrop?" he returned."If you could have seen the contrast between you two in my eyes!"After all, one must take life as it comes, its homely details are so mixed up with its sweet charities, and loves, and friendships that one is forced to believe that God has joined them together and does not will that they should be put asunder.It is something that my husband has been satisfied with his wife and his home to-day; that does me good.
MARCH 30.-A stormy day and the children home from school, and no little frolicking and laughing going on.It must, be delightful to feel well and strong while one's children are young, there is so much to do for them.I do it; but no one can tell the effort, it costs me.
