Was he doing this instead of carrying out his half threat of locking her up?  Did he know that this was a punishment ten times worse?

But if he wasn’t going to love her any more, if he was tired of her and wanted to be rid of her, how could she ever bear to stay and be a burden and constant annoyance to him?

Elsie, coming up a little later, found her in her boudoir crying very bitterly.

“Dear child, my dear little daughter,” she said, taking her in her kind arms, “don’t grieve so; a week or even ten days will soon roll round, and Edward will be with you again.”

“O mamma, it is a long, long while!” she sobbed.  “You know we’ve never been parted for a whole day since we were married, and he’s all I have.”

“Yes, dear, I know; and I felt sure you were crying up here and didn’t want to show your tell-tale face at the table, so I sent your breakfast up.  I hope you paid it proper attention—­did not treat it with neglect?” she added sportively.

“It tasted very good, mamma, and you were very kind,” Zoe said.

She longed to ask where and on what errand Edward had gone, but did not want to expose her ignorance of his plans.

“I did not know the ladies were going to-day,” she remarked.

“It was very sudden,” was the reply; “a telegram received this morning summoned them home because of the alarming illness of Miss Deane’s father, and as Edward had business to attend to that would make it necessary for him to take a train leaving only an hour later than theirs, he thought it best to see them on their way as far as our city.  He could not do more, as their destination and his lie in exactly opposite directions.”

Though Edward had kept his own counsel, the kind mother had her suspicions, and was anxious to relieve Zoe’s mind as far as lay in her power.

Zoe’s brightening countenance and sigh of relief showed her that her efforts were not altogether in vain.

“I think Edward was sorry to leave his little wife for so long,” she went on.  “He committed her to my care.  What will you do with yourself this morning, dear, while I am busy with the children in the school-room?”

“I don’t know, mamma; perhaps learn some lessons.  Edward would wish me to attend to my studies while he is away, and I want to please him.”

“I haven’t a doubt of that, dear.  I know there is very strong love between you, and the knowledge makes me very happy.”

“Mamma,” said Zoe, “may I ask you a question?”

“Certainly, dear, as many as you please.”

“Did you obey your husband?”

Elsie looked surprise, almost startled; the query seemed to throw new light on the state of affairs between Edward and his young wife; but she answered promptly in her own sweet, gentle tones.  “My dear, I often wished he would only give me the opportunity; it would have been so great a pleasure to give up my wishes for one I loved so dearly.”