suit your mind, and I'll be satisfied."

This she did with such skill, taste, and good management that she returned a
large portion of the sum he had given her, whereupon he laughingly remarked
that she had already saved more than she owed him. He seemed disinclined to
accompany her in the selection of their simple outfit, but professed himself
so pleased with her choice of everything that she was gratified and happy in
the thought of relieving him from trouble.

Thus their married life began under what appeared to her the most promising
and congenial circumstances. She soon insisted on having work again, and her
busy fingers did much to increase his income.

Alida was not an exacting woman, and recognized from the beginning that her
husband would naturally have peculiar ways of his own. Unlike Mrs. Mumpson,
she never expatiated on "adaptation," but Ostrom soon learned, with much
inward relief, that his wife would accept unquestioningly what appeared to be
his habits and preferences. He went early to his place of work, taking the
nice little lunch which she prepared, and returned in the dusk of the evening
when he always found a warm dinner in readiness. After this, he was ready
enough to walk with her, but, as before, chose the least frequented streets.
Places of amusement and resort seemed distasteful. On Sundays he enjoyed a
ramble in the country as long as the season permitted, and then showed a great
disinclination to leave the fireside. For a time he went with her in the
evening to church, but gradually persuaded her to remain at home and read or
talk to him.

His wife felt that she had little cause to complain of his quiet ways and
methodical habits. He had exhibited them before marriage and they were
conducive to her absolute sense of proprietorship in him--an assurance so dear