Mr. Z., a man of thirty-five, of a refined, intellectual, but rather
cold nature, married his ward, an amiable, immature girl of fifteen.
Her attraction for him lay in her youthful affection and her healthy,
handsome, physical characteristics. She had in her the “makings” of a
thoughtful, self-reliant woman; but development in natural order was
arrested by her being placed in so false a position--a wife at scarcely
fifteen.
Very soon after the marriage she found herself pregnant. Meanwhile,
Mr. Z. for love of her and for the sake of companionship, earnestly
endeavored to awaken in her some intellectual tastes. He read to her,
explaining and illustrating as he went along, many of the standard
English poets and essayists. She listened, received, and grew _en
rapport_ with him.
Under these favorable auspices their first child was born. She was the
child of the father, and wore his features, toned to greater delicacy
of outline and purer colors. Her mind as she grew to womanhood was of a
quite superior order, but wanted the breadth and generosity which more
warmth in the father, and greater ripeness in the mother, would have
secured to her.
This infant once in the mother’s arms there could be no further
leisure for literary or poetic culture. And as it was not possible for
intellectual habits to be formed in the short space of twelve months,
the young girl naturally slid back to her former plane of life. This
was the more inevitable as their pecuniary circumstances made it
necessary for Mrs. Z. to take sole charge of her little one.
Two years from this time another child was born to them--a girl also;
but in whom Mrs. Z.’s mental calibre was represented, while her fine
physical traits were omitted.
With the more all-engrossing cares of the young wife, the daily life
of herself and husband grew insensibly apart. And now a new personage
appeared on the scene--a lady of a brilliant, comprehensive, and highly
cultivated mind, to which was added a keen and comprehensive interest
in the most important reform movement of the day, for which Mr. Z. had
signally failed to enlist his wife’s sympathy.
Now it was but natural that Mrs. Z., observing the eagerness with which
her husband became engrossed in conversation with his guest, argument
following argument, constant reference made at breakfast, dinner,
supper to events and personages of which she was wholly ignorant,
should grow uncomfortable, depressed, jealous. The talented lady was
oblivious to the impression she was making, but she had too noble a
nature to willingly make trouble between man and wife.
The new year came, and the fascinating guest departed. The husband,
reviewing the past months, charged himself with gross neglect of his
wife, and sought, by the most delicate and considerate attention, to
atone for his neglect. Mrs. Z. was now nearing her twentieth year,
and was _enciente_ with her third child. She was overjoyed to have
her husband all to herself again, and _expressed that satisfaction_
in responding passionately to the almost nightly embrace. In due time
a son was born--a handsome animal he proved to be. “What a pity that
excellent people like the Z.’s should be cursed with so vile a son!”
was the common remark when the young man’s reputation as a libertine
had become fully established.