But she was clever, and had picked up an education and good manners amidst the difficulties of her childhood,--and had been beautiful to look at.
To marry and have the command of money, to do her duty correctly, to live in a big house and be respected, had been her ambition,--and during the first fifteen years of her married life she was successful amidst great difficulties.

She would smile within five minutes of violent ill-usage.

Her husband would even strike her,--and the first effort of her mind would be given to conceal the fact from all the world.

In latter years he drank too much, and she struggled hard first to prevent the evil, and then to prevent and to hide the ill effects of the evil.

But in doing all this she schemed, and lied, and lived a life of manoeuvres.