Part 11 (2/2)

When Samuel Brewster came home from his work at an unexpectedly early hour that afternoon he was astonished to find an imposing coupe, drawn by two fat, s.h.i.+ning horses, being driven slowly up and down before his door; and further, as he entered the house, by the cheerful sound of clinking silver and china and low-voiced conversation. Elizabeth, pink-cheeked and smiling, met him with an exclamation of happy surprise.

”I am so glad you came home, Sam dear,” she said. ”Mrs. Van Duser was hoping to see you before she went.”

And Mrs. Van Duser, looking very much at home and very comfortable indeed in Sam's own big wicker chair, proffered him a large white jewelled hand, while she bade him give an account of himself quite in the tone of an affectionate relative.

”You have a charming and sensible wife, Samuel, and a well-conducted home,” said the great lady. ”I have seen the whole house, cellar, kitchen and all,” she added with a reminiscent sigh, ”and it has carried me back to the happiest days I ever spent.”

The young engineer pa.s.sed his arm about his Elizabeth's shoulders as the two stood at the gate watching the stately departure of the Van Duser equipage. ”Well, Betty,” he said, ”so the mountain came to Mahomet? But the mountain doesn't seem such a bad sort, after all. I liked the way she kissed you good-bye, though I should never have guessed she was capable of it.”

Elizabeth drew a deep breath. ”I never was so frightened in my life as when she first came,” she confessed. ”But she is kind, Sam, in her way, though at first I thought it wasn't a pleasant way. And O, Sam dear, she thinks we gave up our flat and came out here just because she wrote us that letter; she was as complacent as could be when she spoke of it.”

”Did you undeceive her?”

”N-no, dear, I didn't even try. Perhaps it was the letter--partly, and anyway I felt sure I couldn't make her think any differently whatever I might say. But I did tell her about Annita and about how thoughtless and selfish I was, and----”

”Did you tell her about the Tripp lady?” he suggested teasingly.

”No,” she said gravely. ”Evelyn meant to be kind, too; I am sure of that.”

”O benevolent Betty!” he exclaimed with mock gravity. ”O most sapient Elizabeth! I perceive that in gaining a new friend thou hast not lost an old one! I suppose from now on you will begin to model your small self on the Van Duser pattern. My lady will see to it that you do, if you see much of her.”

Elizabeth looked up at her tall husband, her brown eyes br.i.m.m.i.n.g with thoughtful light. ”It is good to have friends,” she said slowly; ”but, Sam dear, we must never allow any--_friend_ to come between us again. We must live our own lives, and solve our own problems, even if we make an occasional blunder doing it.”

”We've solved our problems already,” he said confidently, ”and I'm not afraid of the blunders, thanks to the dearest and best little wife a man ever had.”

And Elizabeth smiled back at him, knowing in her wiser woman's heart that there were yet many problems to be solved, but not fearful of what the future would bring in the light of his loving eyes.

<script>