Already, having conquered in the fray, I forgave him the injuries that he had worked me.

It is not in my nature to bear unnecessary malice--indeed, I hate making or having an enemy.

And yet I hesitated, not from any premonition or presentiment of the dreadful events that were to follow, but simply because of my wife's objection to being attended by any one but myself.

I thought of advancing this in excuse of a refusal, but checked myself, because I was sure that he would interpret it as a rebuff, and in consequence hate me more bitterly than ever.

So in the end I accepted his offer gratefully, and we parted.
When I told Emma she was a little upset, but being a sensible woman she soon saw the force of my arguments and fell in with the situation.
In truth, unselfish creature that she was, she thought more of the advantage that would accrue to me by this formal burying of the hatchet than of her own prejudices or convenience.
The time came and with it Sir John Bell, large, sharp-eyed, and jocose.
In due course and under favourable conditions a daughter was born to me, a very beautiful child, fair like her mother, but with my dark eyes.
I think it was on the fourth day from the birth of the child that I went after luncheon to see my wife, who so far had done exceedingly well.
I found her depressed, and she complained of headache.