His wife, fortunately, was not a young woman who yearned for sentiment.

She was a nice-tempered, practical American girl, who adored French country life and knew how to amuse and manage her husband.

It was a genial sort of menage and yet though this was an undeniable fact, Bettina observed that when the union was spoken of it was always referred to with a certain tone which conveyed that though one did not exactly complain of its having been undesirable, it was not quite what Gaston might have expected.

His wife had money and was good-natured, but there were limitations to one's appreciation of a marriage in which husband and wife were not on the same plane.
"She is an excellent person, and it has been good for Gaston," said Bettina's friend.

"We like her, but she is not--she is not----" She paused there, evidently seeing that the remark was unlucky.