WYLDER'S HAjXD.
315
Rachel's talks with the Vicar were frequent; and poor
little Mrs. William Wylder, who knew not the reasons of
his visits. fell slowly, and to the good man's entire bewil-
derment, into a chronic jealousy. It expressed itself
enigmatically: it was circumlocutory, sad and mysteri-
ous.
Little Fairy was so pleased with his visit to Redman's
Farm to-day. He told me all about it; did not you, lit-
tle man? But still you love poor old mamma best of
all; you would not like to have a new mamma. Ah, no;
you'd rather have your poor old, ugly Mussie. I wish I
was handsome, my little man, and clever; but wishing is
vain.
"Ah! Willie, there was a time when you could not
see how ugly and dull your poor foolish little wife was;
but it could not last for ever. How did it happen — oh,
how ? — you such a scholar, so clever, so handsome, my
beautiful Willie — how did you ever look down on poor
wretched me?"
"I think it will be fine, Willie, and Miss Lake will
expect you at Redman's Farm; and little Fairy will go
too; yes, you'd like to go, and mamma will stay at home,
and try to be useful in her poor miserable way," and so
on.
The Vicar, thinking of other things, never seeing tho
reproachful irony in all this, would take it quite literally,
assent sadly, and with little Fairy by the hand, set forth
for Redman's Farm; and the good little body, to the
amazement of her two maids, would be heard passionately
weeping in the parlor in her forsaken state.
At last there came a great upbraiding, a great eclair-
cissemeni, and laughter, and crying, and hugging; and
the poor little woman, quite relieved, went off immediately,
in her gratitude, to Rachel, and paid her quite an affec-
tionate little visit.