“I shall never be content until I know her history, and if you are so foolish, so indifferent, as not to care anything about it, I shall take the first opportunity to inquire into her genealogy,” Mrs. Winthrop resolutely remarked. “Pardon me, mother,” her son began as resolutely, “but I must insist that you do nothing of the kind. Salome is sensitive—very delicately made—and you would wound her exceedingly by seeking to pry into her family affairs. When she has an opportunity to confide in me I will acquaint you with all that is necessary for you to know. But I cannot allow her to be questioned or excited in any way, for she is far from strong even now, and I shall have to be very careful of her for a long time to come. She has improved wonderfully, however, since I brought her home, and if she has nothing to cause a relapse, I am sure that she will soon be entirely out of danger. Mother, Evelyn”—turning an appealing glance upon them—“why will you not receive my wife in a motherly and sisterly way? Give her love and kindness, and I know that she will prove all that you can desire in a daughter and sister.” “How have your friends here in New York received the news of your astonishing marriage?” questioned Madame Winthrop, without paying any heed to his appeal. “I doubt if half a dozen people in the city know that I am married,” replied the young doctor. “I have been so busy since my return that I have met scarcely any one whom we visit, and Salome has been so delicate that I have not thought best to send any cards. But you have not yet told me whether you intend to be upon friendly terms with my wife,” he concluded, persistently. “Truman, I cannot be reconciled to this marriage. Just think what she has cost, what it involves, and all the peculiar circumstances attending it?” Madame Winthrop sternly remarked. “I suppose if I had married Miss Rochester, under exactly the same circumstances, you could have been easily reconciled to the peculiarity of the situation,” Dr. Winthrop observed, with quiet scorn. “Of course; for you were pledged to her, and we know all about her family; while—oh, True! it has been the dream of my life to see those two estates—Brookside and Englehurst—united,” sighed Madame Winthrop dolefully.