My care is not for anything
but what concerns ourselves and our home. I tell you plainly I do not
desire children. I will not have any more. I will do all I can to make
you honorable and happy. I will order and see to your house, servants,
and expenditures. I will love and cherish and bring up properly our dear
child. I will make you socially respected. I will read or write, or play
or sing to your desire. I will above all other things love and obey you.
Is not this sufficient, John?"
"No, I want children. They were an understood consequence of our
marriage. I feel ashamed among my fellows----"
"Yes, I suppose you would like to imitate Squire Atherton and take two
pews in church for your sons and daughters and walk up the aisle every
Sunday before them. It is comical to watch them. And poor Mrs. Atherton!
Once she was the beauty of the West Riding! Now she is a faded, draggled
skeleton, carelessly and unfashionably dressed, following meekly the
long procession of her giggling girls and sulky boys.
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