Countess Rosali had a great
dread of all domestic scenes.
Neither Dora nor Ronald ever alluded again to this little
incident; it had one bad effect--it frightened the timid young
wife, and made her dread going into society. When invitations to
grand houses came, she would say, "Go alone, Ronald; if I am with
you they are sure to ask me ever so many questions which I can
not answer; then you will be vexed with me, and I shall be
ashamed of my ignorance."
"Why do you not learn?" Ronald would ask, disarmed by her sweet
humility.
"I can not," said Dora, shaking her pretty head. "The only
lesson I ever learned in my life was how to love you."
"You have learned that by heart," replied Ronald. Then he would
kiss her pitiful little face and go without her.
By slow degrees it became a settled rule that Dora should stay at
home and Ronald go out. He had no scruples in leaving her--she
never objected; her face was always smiling and bright when he
went away, and the same when he returned. He said to himself
that Dora was happier at home than elsewhere, that fine ladies
frightened her and made her unhappy.
Pages:
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128