She had always known this.

Even when her father had brought home his pretty bride and Esther, a shy, silent child of eleven, had welcomed her, she had known that the newcomer was the weaker spirit.

The bride had known it too.

She had never attempted to control Esther, leaving the child entirely to her father--a bit of unwitting wisdom which did much to smooth daily life at the Elms.

If the doctor saw his wife's weakness of character it is probable that it did not interfere with his love for her.