Page:The Clergyman's Wife.djvu/98

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
96
A Plethora of Happiness.

ors! What perfect roses! That yellow jessamine is gorgeous! I suppose you gathered these in your own garden?"

Angelica looked up as if she had not noticed the floral decorations before. "They are pretty," she answered, with an indifferent air. "I did not gather them, that's Arena's province; she always keeps the vases and baskets supplied; she has decided taste that way."

"Have you any commands, Angelica?" asked Mr. Willington. "I will leave you ladies together. I hope to see Miss Merriwether at dinner time. Good morning."

As Mr. Willington passed the sofa upon which his wife was lying, he stooped and touched her forehead lightly with his lips, as was his wont on leaving the house for the day.

Angelica received the caress without returning and apparently without noticing it, for no change of expression passed over her features. Not that the salutation gave her no pleasure, she might. have felt wounded if had it been forgotten, but she did not deem it necessary to make the exertion of a response, and her husband evidently expected nothing of the kind.

"Now, Angelica, dear," said Ruth, taking the little white hand, almost heavy with its wealth of sparkling gems, in both of hers, "tell me what ails you?"

"I can't tell; I don't know."

This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.