our friends, but I wanted her all to myself.

Our Sundays were looked forward to with eagerness. We attended
church service in the morning, and the afternoons were passed in
our apartment in delightful intercourse.

There was never a dull moment.

Sunday evening supper, which to me has always been a most attractive
meal, was usually taken either with my family or at Mr. Sherman's.
Occasionally we would attend an evening service, but as a rule we
would get home early and have a few hours to ourselves.

Our year of separation while engaged had to be atoned for.

We were lovers the first year of our wedded life, and after all
these years we are, no less ardently, lovers still.




CHAPTER VI

THE FIRST REVERSE OF FORTUNE.



The Christmas holidays of 1872 were at hand and I was in full spirit
with the festivities of the season.