Wedding Visits


Young Mrs. Charnock Poynsett had plenty of elasticity, and her
rebuffs were less present to her mind in the morning than to that of
her husband, who had been really concerned to have to inflict an
expostulation; and he was doubly kind, almost deferential, giving
the admiration and attention he felt incumbent on him to the
tasteful arrangements of her wedding presents in her own sitting-
room.

"And this clock I am going to have in the drawing-room, and these
Salviati glasses. Then, when I have moved out the piano, I shall
put the sofa in its place, and my own little table, with my pretty
Florentine ornaments."

Raymond again looked annoyed. "Have you spoken to my mother?" he
said.

"No; she never goes there."

"Not now, but if ever she can bear any move it will be her first
change, and I should not like to interfere with her arrangements."

"She could never have been a musician, to let the piano stand
against the wall. I shall never be able to play."

"Perhaps that might be contrived," said Raymond, kindly. "_Here_
you know is your own domain, where you can do as you please."