PAGE 9
The Vice-Consort
by
“‘I have nothing to say about that,’ I answered; ‘but if I live as long as my grandfather did, I do not believe that your being a little older than I am would–I mean that you would not be left alone. Don’t you understand?’
“Bernard did not laugh. ‘You are the dearest little woman in the world,’ he said, ‘and I believe you would do anything to make me happy–you would even be willing to survive me, so that I should never lose you. But don’t let us talk any more about such doleful things. We are both going to live to be a great deal older than your grandfather. Now I will tell you something pleasant: I had a letter this morning, just as I was starting out. I put it in my pocket, and did not have time to open it until we were eating our lunch. It is from my brother George, who is going to England next month, you know; and as he wants to see something of us before he starts, he intends to spend a few days in the village, so that he can be with us. He is coming to-morrow.’
“A ray of hope shot into my heart so bright that I could almost feel it burn.
“‘Well,’ said Bernard, ‘what have you to say to this? Aren’t you glad that George is coming?’
“‘Glad!’ I replied. ‘I am more than delighted.’
“Bernard looked as though he did not understand this extraordinary ecstasy; but as he was used to not understanding me, I do not suppose he thought it worth while to bother himself about it.
“George was a fine young fellow, and, next to Bernard, I thought he was the best man in the world. It will be remembered that I had no brother, and George was always as kind and brotherly as he could be. I was fond of him even before I was married; in fact, I knew him quite well before I became acquainted with Bernard; and I was always glad to see him. But I had never been so delighted to think he was coming as I was then. My face must have shown this, for Bernard laughingly said:
“‘You must be awfully glad to see George.’
“‘I am glad,’ I answered; and as I spoke I thought that if he knew everything he would understand why my eyes glistened, as I am sure they did.
“The reason of my great joy was that a plan had suddenly come into my mind. George had spoken to me several times about marrying, and he had told me just what kind of a wife he wanted; and now, as I remembered what he had said on the subject, it seemed to me he had been describing Margaret Temple. He wanted a wife who was good-looking but not a belle, and she must be sensible and practical, a good housekeeper, and a charming hostess. Besides, she must be intellectual, and fond of books, and appreciate art, and all that. Moreover, he had said he would like her to be just about a year older than himself, because he thought that was a good proportion in a young couple. It was apt to make the man look up to his wife a little, which might not be the case if he were the elder. I remembered this, because when he told me I wished very much that I were a year older than Bernard.
“Now, as I said before, all this seemed as though he had been talking of Miss Temple; and I, knowing her so well, could see other points than those he mentioned in which she would suit him as no other woman could. If George would fall in love with Miss Temple,–and there was no earthly reason why he should not, for Bernard told me he was going to make him stay a week,–then everything would be all right; all my anxieties, my forebodings, and my jealousies would be gone, and I should be as happy as I was before I met that dear girl, Miss Temple.