I.—THE BEGINNING OF IT ALL
II.—IN THE EARLY DAYS
III.—A PAGE OF LIFE
IV.—THE BROKEN CIRCLE
V.—A LITTLE MISUNDERSTANDING
VI.—DEPOSED
VII.—A BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT
VIII.—THE SILVER WEDDING
IX.—GRANDMAMMA
X.—VINDICATED
My father in England married a second time when I was about eighteen.She was my governess.
Mother herself had engaged her, and I believe had asked, when dying,that she would remain to take care of us; and I don't say that she wasnot a good woman. She had been nearly five years in the house, and wehad the habit of looking to her for advice in all family concerns; andcertainly she took great pains with my education. But of course I wasnot going to stand seeing her put in mother's place. I told father so.I said to him, kindly, but firmly: "Father, you will have to choosebetween us. There will not be room under this roof for both."
He chose her. Consequently I left my home, though they both tried hardto prevent it, and to reconcile me to their new arrangements. I will saythat for them. In fact, my father, pleading legal rights, forbade me togo, except for some temporary visiting. I went on the understanding thatI was to return in a couple of months or so. But I was resolved not toreturn, and I never did. While staying with my uncle, a medical man, Iprivately married his assistant—one (if I may say so) of amiscellaneous assortment of admirers. I am afraid I encouraged him topropose an elopement; I certainly hastened its accomplishment. Thenafter all our plottings and stratagems, when at last I had the ring onmy finger, I wrote to inform father of what he and Miss Coleman haddriven me to. Poor old father! It was a tremendous blow to him. But Idon't know why he should have made such a fuss about it, seeing that hehad done the same—practically the same—himself.
It was a greater disaster to me than to him, or to anybody—even to myhusband, who almost from the first regarded me as a millstone about hisneck; for he could go away and enjoy himself when he liked, forgettingthat I existed. Indeed, it was a horrible catastrophe. When my ownchildren are so anxious to get married while they are still butchildren, and think it so cruel of me to thwart them, I wish I couldtell them what I went through at their age! But I don't mention it. Ipromised Tom I never would.
At twenty I was teaching for a living—I, who had been so petted andcoddled, hardly allowed to do a hand's turn for myself! My husband wastravelling about the world as a ship's doctor. Fathe