"'Their words are smoother than oil, but in their mouths is a drawn
sword,'" quoted Mrs. Sutton, in meek protest against the sugared
malice of this slander when it was told to her. "This is none of
Mabel's doings. She loves me dearly as ever, but one might as well
hope to move the Blue Ridge as to teach that pragmatical husband of
hers to consult her wishes and her good, before he does his own. His
head is hard as a flint, and his heart--never mind! Heaven forgive
me if I am unjust to him! I should be thankful that he does not
really mean to misuse my darling. Now, my dears, you see how
undesirable an inmate of any house I am rated to be. If you wish to
retract your offer of a hiding-place for my old head, I shall not
take it amiss. Thanks to Providence and my dear Frederic I have
enough, to maintain me decently anywhere in this country. I shall
never be chargeable to anybody for my food, victuals, and lodgings.
If you are willing to let me board here and do odd stitches for the
children when they tear their aprons and rub out the knees of their
trowsers--just to keep me out of mischief, you understand!--I
promise to be as little officious in housewifely concerns as it is
in my nature to be."
William Sutton and his wife--a woman who was both sagacious and
amiable--reiterated their assurances that she could not confer a
greater boon upon them than by remaining where she was, and with
them she had stayed until Mr. Aylett sent over the Ridgeley
carriage, one day in the third week in February, with a note from
Mabel, begging her aunt to present herself, without needless delay,
at the homestead, since she was not reckoned sufficiently strong to
attempt the uneven and muddy roads that still separated them. Mrs.
Aylett also dispatched a billet by the coachman, the graceful burden
of which was the same as that of Mabel's petition, and the two
long-sundered friends were speedily together; fellow-partakers of a
bountiful and painstaking hospitality, which kept them continually
in mind that they were guests, and not at home.
The dialogue relative to Rosa Tazewell's matrimonial project took
place on the third day of Mrs. Sutton's visit, in Mabel's chamber,
and when the former, having talked off the topmost bubbles of her
righteous wrath, recollected several very important
letters--business and friendly--she ought to have written a week
ago, and trotted off to her room where she could perform the
neglected duty without visible and outward temptation to that she
was more fond of doing--to wit, talking--the young wife continued
to work steadily, and with apparent composure. It was not a bright
face on which the light from the western windows fell, yet it was
not unhappy. She had never pretended to herself that her marriage
was a step toward happiness, but she had believed that it would
secure to her a larger share of peace, immunity from disturbance,
and independence of thought and action, than fell to her lot in her
brother's house, and for these negative benefits she longed wearily.