long ago been broken and defaced; but the beautiful old china remained.
There were still the two dozen cups and saucers, the cream jug, sugar
basin and large plates of the feather-cups, just as when they were
first bought. Their rich gilding, which completely covered them
outside, was hardly worn at all, nor were the bright birds' feathers
and raised pink flowers. It would be very pleasant, Mrs. Marston
reflected wistfully, to use it again. There were all the bottled
fruits, too, and lemon-curd and jellies; and a wedding would be a very
pleasant, suitable opportunity for making one of her famous layer cakes
and for wearing her purple silk dress. Mingled with these ideas was the
knowledge that Edward wanted it, would be 'vexed' if it had to be put
off. 'I have never known him to be so reckless,' she pondered. 'But
still, he'll settle down once he's married. And she'll sober down, too,
when the little ones come. It will be pleasant when they come. A
grandmother has all the pleasures of a mother and none of the pains.
And she will not want to manage anything. Edward said so. I should not
have liked a managing daughter-in-law. Edward was wise in his choice.
For, though noisy, she'll quiet down a little with each of the dear
babies, and there will be plenty of them, I think and hope.'

It was characteristic of Mrs. Marston's class and creed (united with
the fact that she was Edward's mother) that she did not consider Hazel
in the matter. Hazel's point of view, personality, hopes and fears were
non-existent to her. Hazel would be absorbed into the Marston family
like a new piece of furniture. She would be provided for without being
consulted; it would be seen to that she did her duty, also without
being consulted. She would become, as all the other women in this and
the other families of the world had, the servant of the china and the
electro-plate and the furniture, and she would be the means by which
Edward's children came into the world. She would, when not