he disclosed to his wife, with much reluctance and embarrassment, this
undivulged source of his fears for the future, alleging it as a just
argument for his declining to be guided by her opinion.

The indignant sympathies of the mother abashed, on this occasion, the
miserable and calculating impiety of the husband; her reproaches were
open and unshrinking, and her moral sense of his conduct just and
beautiful.

"Fardorougha," said she, "I thought, up to this time, to this day, that
there was nothing in your heart but too much of the world; but now I'm
afeard, if God hasn't sed it, that the devil himself's there. You're
frettin' for 'fraid of a family; but has God sent us any but this one
yet? No--an' I wouldn't be surprised, if the Almighty should punish your
guilty heart, by making the child he gave you, a curse, instead of a
blessin'. I think, as it is, he has brought little pleasure to you for
so far, and, if your heart hardens as he grows up, it's more unhappy
you'll get every day you live."

"That's very fine talk, Honora; but to people in our condition, I can't
see any very great blessin' in a houseful of childre. If we're able to
provide for this one, we'll have raison to be thankful widout wishin'
for more."

"It's my opinion, Fardorougha, you don't love the child."

"Change that opinion, then, Honora; I do love the child; but there's no
needcessity for blowin it about to every one I meet. If I didn't love
him, I wouldn't feel as I do about all the hardships that may be before
him. Think of what a bad sason, or a failure of the craps, might bring