She was quite certain, now, that everything had been for the best, and that Providence makes no mistakes.

But that, perhaps, was because the "trials" had only lasted about a year; and then, so far as they were pecuniary, the marriage of her son with Miss Daphne Floyd had entirely relieved her of them.

For Roger now made her a handsome allowance and the chastened habits of a most uncomfortable year had been hastily abandoned.
Nevertheless, Lady Barnes's aspect on this autumn afternoon was not cheerful, and her companion was endeavouring, with a little kind embarrassment, both to soothe an evident irritation and to avoid the confidences that Roger's mother seemed eager to pour out.

Elsie French, whom Washington had known three years before as Elsie Maddison, was in that bloom of young married life when all that was lovely in the girl seems to be still lingering, while yet love and motherhood have wrought once more their old transforming miracle on sense and spirit.

In her afternoon dress of dainty sprigged silk, with just a touch of austerity in the broad muslin collar and cuffs--her curly brown hair simply parted on her brow, and gathered classically on a shapely head--her mouth a little troubled, her brow a little puckered over Lady Barnes's discontents--she was a very gracious vision.