_Margaret._ To me what's title when content is wanting? Or wealth, raked up together with much care, And to be kept with more, when the heart pines, In being dispossessed of what it longs for Beyond the Indian mines? Or the smooth brow Of a pleased sire, that slaves me to his will, Leaving my soul nor faculties nor power To make her own election? _Allworth._ But the dangers That follow the repulse,---- _Margaret._ To me they're nothing: Let Allworth love, I cannot be unhappy. Massinger. As Mr. Winston's suggestion to his wife, that she should ask Miss Trevethlan to their house, seemed suddenly to improve their mutual understanding, so did Helen's acceptance of the invitation make them still better known to each other. Among the commonest and worst features of unions like theirs, is a prejudice on one side or the other that happiness is impossible, which closes every avenue to amelioration. The discontented parties have eyes only for defects. The heart which accepted the match with ill-disguised repugnance, is subsequently too proud to admit it was in error. It will not resign the privilege of complaint. It insists on continually galling itself with what it calls its chains. It hugs the satisfaction of considering itself ill-used. For the world, it would not allow itself, even in reverie, to be at ease. Yet, when there is no real deficiency either in character or temper, a hopeful spirit will probably soon find grounds for esteem, and esteem will be likely to ripen into affection. And then the very contrasts of disposition which at first appeared to preclude sympathy, will really promote it, by furnishing opportunities for good-humoured mirth, instead of objects for silent peevishness. Gertrude Winston had never thought it worth her while to understand her husband. She married him as a pure negation, preferring King Log to King Stork. He was neither sulky, nor mean, nor selfish; he was not meddlesome, nor fidgety, nor exacting. His wife never heard a sharp word from his lips. Surely she might have taken the trouble to go a little below the surface, and see if his pedantry and apathy concealed no qualities which she might first admire, and then love. But no; she had determined to be a "victim," and resolutely closed both heart and mind against any appreciation of whatever might be endearing in his disposition. And for him,--indolent and even-tempered, having married because people usually married, in the same way as they were born and buried,--he certainly took no pains to display his merits, and allowed his wife to do exactly as she pleased, without let or hinderance.