"Well then," said Gwen, "I will give you advice, rather than Luke. Why don't you teach him what to do?" Rachel laughed out loud. "Don't be foolish," she said. "I'm not foolish," said Gwen earnestly. "But I have read, and I think it is probably true, that a woman can make a man what she wants him to be." "Explain yourself," said Rachel amused. "I mean that you should teach him to remember that as a husband he is bound to follow your wishes. Tell him, for instance, to fetch the coals for you; to open the door when you have your hands full; and to hand the tea about when you have people. I have noticed that Mrs. Graham, who has one of the best of husbands, does this, and the consequence is that he waits on her as if he were her slave. You know, Rachel, at present you are Luke's slave." "Well now you have done your lecture," said Rachel good-humouredly, "So we'll go out, and I hope to hear no more of it; but I feel strongly you ought to ask Luke's pardon for what must have struck him as great impertinence." "I shall do no such thing," said Gwen. "I think you will find that he profits by my words." But as Luke took her home as usual at night, leaving her at the door of the house in which was her room, having talked to her as if nothing had, happened, Gwen felt rather small. It did not look much as if he had profitted or indeed remembered her lecture. This was decidedly snubbing, but then Gwen was used to being snubbed. [Illustration] CHAPTER X. THE TRAINING BEGINS. Rachel was not very sorry to remember that Gwen would be leaving in a few days. She might do a great deal of mischief if she stayed longer with them. Anyhow she would probably make Luke unhappy if she talked to him in the same way as she had spoken to her. But there was only one part of Gwen's conversation that had effect on Luke, and that was the fear of Rachel's health suffering from the change from the country to the overpopulated town. When he had left Gwen at the door of her lodging, he hurried home, and after hanging up his hat in the hall, made his way to the drawing-room where he knew he would find Rachel. She was working, but on his entrance looked up, and their eyes meeting, both knew that Gwen was the subject of their thoughts. Rachel was the first to speak. "I don't know exactly what that silly child has been saying to you," she said, "but I'm afraid she has been very impertinent." "Well I can't deny that she has said some outrageous things," he said laughing, "but after all she is only a child." "And you must forgive her," said Rachel. "We never take any notice of what Gwen says. She gets the most ridiculous notions into her head. I hope you are not letting the thought of her worry you." "A great deal of what she said was sheer nonsense," he answered, "but I own what she hinted about your health distresses me. I only hope it is not true." "My health? But what did she say? I am perfectly well."