He was always ready to acknowledge to himself that his
present wife was a good and helpful companion to him and a careful
mother to his children; but there were moments in which he would
remember with soft regret a different phase of his life. Just at
present he was somewhat angry, and resolving in his own mind that
in this case he would have his own way.
"Then I shall tell her she mayn't," said Mrs. Masters with a look
of dogged determination.
"I hope you will do nothing of the kind, my dear. I've told her
that she shall have a few pounds to get what she wants, and I won't
have her disappointed." After that Mrs. Masters bounced out of the
room, and made herself very disagreeable indeed over the
tea-things.
The whole household was much disturbed that day. Mrs. Masters said
nothing to Mary about Lady Ushant all the morning, but said a great
deal about other things. Poor Mary was asked whether she was not
ashamed to treat a young man as she was treating Mr. Twentyman.
Then again it was demanded of her whether she thought it right that
all the house should be knocked about for her. At dinner Mrs.
Masters would hardly speak to her husband but addressed herself
exclusively to Dolly and Kate. Mr. Masters was not a man who could,
usually, stand this kind of thing very long and was accustomed to
give up in despair and then take himself off to the solace of his
office-chair.
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