80
WYLD^R'S HAND.
"Well though the book is lost, we retain the moral,
you see," said Rachel with a little laugh; "and it has
always seemed to me that if it had not been necessary to
say, 'my honey, my love, and my dear,' that good soul
would not have said it, and you may be pretty sure that if
she had not, and with the suitable by-play too, she might
not have ridden to Gam well that day."
"And you don't think you could have persuaded your-
self to repeat that little charm, which obtained her boon
of his horses straitway?" said Lord Chelford.
"Well, I don't know what a great temptation and a
contumacious husband might bring one to; but I'm afraid
I'm a stubborn creature, and have not the feminine gift
of flattery. If, indeed, he felt his inferiority and owned
his dependence, I think I might, perhaps, have called
him ' my honey, my love, and my dear,' and encouraged
and comforted him; but to buy my personal liberty, and
the right to visit my brother at Gamwell — never!"
And yet she looked, Lord Chelford thought, very good-
humored and pleasant, and he fancied a smile from her
might do more with some men than all gentle Joan's
honeyed vocabulary.
"I own," said Lord Chelford, laughing, " that, from
prejudice, I suppose, I am in favor of the apostolic meth-
od, and stand up for the divine right of my sex; but then,
don't you see, it is your own fault, if you make it a ques-
tion of right, when you may make it altogether one of -
fascination?"
"Who, pray, is disputing the husband's right to rule?"
demanded old Lady Chelford unexpectedly.
"[ am very timidly defending it against very serious
odds," answered her son.
"Tut, tut! my dears, what's all this; you must obey
your husbands," cried the dowager, who put down non-