PATTERNS
the bustle and congratulations, he uttered the words, " Mine, entirely, until death us do part! "-the care and tenderness that I re ceived, during that Elysian journey- and the numerous kind letters and presents that poured in upon me, almost made me forget my want of beauty. This consciousness was renewed in rather an unexpected manner. At Herman's request, I went with him to pay a visit to an old , bed -ridden aunt, the carefully tended charge of one of my husband's sistersa personage who, like the baby in a family, ruled them all by her very helplessness. No event could take place without aunt Nancy's being informed of all the circumstances-no purchases made without her having the first sight-no visitor could arrive without an early presentation . Aunt Nancy liked pretty things and pretty people- upon the principle, I suppose, that we always fancy our opposites ; for the old lady might have sat for a portrait of the Witch of Endor-and, unfortunately, at my presentation, I was very weary, and had a bad cold in my head-two circumstances which never enhanced my charms. I shook a little as aunt Nancy's sharp eyes deliberately scanned me ; but old feelings, which I had hoped were dead and buried long ago, came trooping back in full force, as the old lady remarked in a disappointed tone, " Well, Herman, you didn't select your wife for her beauty, did you?" My eyes filled with tears, and I glanced timidly at my husband.
PATTERNS
411
FOR INSERTIONS .
FOR
"Yes, aunt Nancy," he replied, in his strong, cheerful voice, pressing me closer to him, " I did select her for her beauty, but it is of a kind that is warranted not to fade ; and besides, she does not look as well as usual, to day- so, you must not form a hasty judgment. To me, she is the prettiest and dearest wife in the world . " How strong and rich I felt then! And just so strong and rich I have felt in the years that have passed since then. Cousin Ruth, who makes us occasional visits, for the sake of saying pleasant things, assures me that "I look quite as well as ever I did, " in a tone which plainly implies that this is not saying much ; and now classes me among the girls who had " nothing in particular about them, " and yet have " done so well for themselves." I passed Ida Mason in the street, the other day, as I was leaning on Herman's arm. Ida Mason no longer, but for some years the wife of one of the white-kidded youths ; and such a changed , discontented face I hope never to behold again. "Twelve years, Ellen," said my husband, significantly, "and where are the bright colors ? Blooming in the face whereon I read, in my first glance at it, an unfading lustre-and whose physical merits, permit me to say, you have always underrated . " As I said before, it is a pleasant thing to be appreciated -which means, of course, to be thought far more highly of than you deserve ; and that pleasure I enjoy to its fullest extent.
INSERTIONS .
&
& VOL. XLI.- 26
&
