And when, after an interval of awful silence, during which Miss Gascoigne looked like a brooding hurricane, and Miss Grey frightened out of her life at what was next to happen, he rose and said, "Now remember, Aunt Henrietta, you or my wife are to give orders to Phillis that the children come to us at lunchtime to-day," Christian was conscious of a slight throb at heart.

It was to see in her husband--the man to whom, whatever he was, she was tied and bound for life--that something without which no woman can wholly respect any man--the power of asserting and of maintaining authority; not that arbitrary, domineering rule which springs from the blind egotism of personal will, and which every other conscientious will, be it of wife, child, servant, or friend, instinctively resists, and, ought to resist, but calm, steadfast, just, righteous authority.

There is an old rhyme, _"A spaniel, a woman, and a walnut-tree, the more ye thrash 'em, the better they be;"_ which rhyme is not true.

But there lies a foundation of truth under it, that no woman ever perfectly loves a man who is not strong enough to make her also obey.
As Dr.Grey went out of the room, and the minute following, as with an after-thought, put in his head again, saying, "Christian, I want you!" she followed him with a lighter heart than she had had for many weary days..