Part 12 (1/2)
Mrs. Morton reflected for a moment, and then said--
”Been trying to correct some of his faults, ha?”
No answer. But the sobbing became less violent.
”Ah, Kate! Kate! I warned you of this.”
”Warned me of what?”
Mrs. Lee lifted her head, and tried to a.s.sume an air of dignity as she spoke.
”I warned you that Frederick would not bear it, if you attempted to lay your hand upon his faults.”
Kate raised her head higher, and compressed her lips. Still she did not answer.
”A young husband, naturally enough, thinks himself faultless--at least in the eyes of his wife.”
”Very far from faultless is Frederick in my eyes,” said Kate. ”My love is not blind, and so I told him.”
”You did!”
”Yes, I did, and in so many words,” replied Kate, with spirit.
”Ah, silly child!” returned her friend. ”Already you have the reward of your folly. I forewarned you how it would be.”
”Are my wishes, feelings, and taste to be of no account whatever?”
said Kate, warmly. ”Frederick is to be and do just what he pleases, and I must say nothing, do nothing, and bear every thing. Was this the contract between us? No, Mrs. Morton!”
The bright eyes of Mrs. Lee flashed with indignant fire.
”Come, come, Katy, dear! Don't let that impulsive heart of thine lead thee too far aside from the path of prudence and safety. I am sure that Frederick Lee is no self-willed, exacting, domestic tyrant. I could not have been so deceived in him. But tell me the particular cause of your trouble. What has been said and done? You have given offence, and he has become offended. Tell me the whole story, Kate, and then I'll know what to say and do for the restoration of your peace.”
”You are aware,” said Kate, after a brief pause, and with a deepening flush on her cheeks, ”how awkward and untidy Frederick is at times,--how he lounges in his chair, and throws his body into all manner of ungraceful att.i.tudes.”
”Well?”
”This, as you know, has always annoyed me sadly. Night before last, I felt so worried with him, that I could not help speaking right out.”
”Ah! when you were worried?”
”Of course. If I hadn't felt worried, I wouldn't have said any thing.”
”Indeed! Well, what did you say? Was your tone of voice low and full of love, and your words as gentle as the falling dew?”
”Mrs. Morton!”
There was a half-angry, indignant expression in the voice of Kate.
”Did you lay your hand lightly, like the touch of a feather, upon the fault you designed to correct, or did you grasp it rudely and angrily?”