"Very easily. It is not so far off my track that it will at all interfere with it." "Well, Miss Oney," said Belle, "so you're an authoress at last. But I don't envy you. I would rather be the authoress of these babies, than of any book I know." "So would I," cried Margaret. "So would I, you dear old geese!" said Laura, laughing. "But I have to put up with what comes to me." CHAPTER XXII. "I want a bit of talk with you, Frank," Mrs. Grey took an opportunity to whisper on the way to the dinner-table. "All right," he replied. "Shall it be in the library, after the rest have gone to bed? Or right after dinner, in your dressing-room?" "Right after dinner," she replied; and as soon as the meal was over, they disappeared. "Now for my curtain-lecture," he said, as they seated themselves by the fire. "I want to speak a word for your poor Lily," she said. "You began by loving her extravagantly, and educated her into expecting this sort of thing could last; now you are transferring your attentions to Gabrielle, in a way that must hurt your wife." "Gabrielle has grown charming," he replied, "and it is delightful to have her again." "That may be; but you may depend upon it, I understand my sex better than you do, and that no woman wants to see a girl put into the place once hers, even though the girl is her own child." "Lily never complains of it." "No; but she droops under it." "I don't like the idea of her being jealous of Gabrielle." "That's not the way to put it. It is not jealousy. You lavish on Gabrielle, by the hour together, caresses you used to lavish on Lily, and she would have to be made of stone not to feel it. You must bear with me, my son, when I say that I don't like it. Whatever defects you may find in her, you cannot undo the past. You fell desperately in love with her, and married her; now you owe it to her to keep up that affection." "Our affections are not under our control." "True; but they are under God's control, and He can make all right between you twain." "It never crossed my mind to ask Him to do that. But, mammy dear, who says I am alienated from Lily? Loving Gabrielle does not involve indifference to my wife." "You ask who says it? _I_ say it, and say it with pain. I did hope to see my sons loyal to the wives they themselves chose, however they might be disappointed in them. Lily has never wilfully annoyed you, and she gives you all the affection she is capable of giving, and wants yours in return." Frank sat thoughtfully looking into the fire, and at the same time searching his own heart. At last he said: "I thank my dear mother for her timely faithfulness. I see now that I must have wounded Lily in many ways. I shall ask her pardon, and start afresh. She little knows her indebtedness to you." "What's going on here; secrets?" said Fred, who had knocked and been admitted. "I have had my dressing, and now you may come and have yours," said Frank, rising.