“The day is so fine I thought I would come in the carriage for you.  It is early yet, and if you like, we can have a little drive.  It might do you good.  You look tired,” she continued, and unmindful of Tom, trying to smooth his hair.

With an impatient gesture, Wilford drew his hand away from the pale fingers which sought their fellows in a nervous clasp as Katy tried not to think Wilford cross, even after he replied: 

“You need not have come for me, as I always prefer a stage; besides that, I can’t go home just yet, I am not ready.”

Katy stood a moment in silence, a flush on her cheek and a pallor about her lips, which Tom Tubbs saw, secretly shaking his fist and thinking how he would like to knock down the man who could speak so to a wife as beautiful and sweet as Katy seemed.

“I have not been here before since my illness, and I wanted to come once more,” she said at last, apologetically, while Wilford, still looking over papers, replied:  “A sweet place to come to.  I sometimes hate it myself.  By the way, I have something to tell you,” and his face began to brighten.  “Mrs. Mills, from Yonkers, was in town to-day, and as she had not time to see you, she found me and insisted upon your keeping the promise you made last summer of spending some days with her.  The Beverleys are there and the Lincolns—­quite a nice party—­so I ventured to say that you should go out to-morrow and I would come out Saturday afternoon to spend Sunday.”

“Oh, Wilford, I can’t,” and Katy’s lip began to quiver at the very thought of meeting people like the Beverleys and Lincolns in her present state of mind.

“You can’t!  Why not?” Wilford asked, and Katy replied:  “I’ve never been in so much company as I shall meet there since baby died, and then—­did you forget that it was Lent?”

“You are getting very good to think a few days’ visit in the country will harm you,” Wilford replied; “besides that, neither Mrs. Mills, nor the Beverleys, nor Lincolns, are church people, and cannot, of course, sympathize in this superstitious fancy.”

Katy looked up in astonishment, for never before had she heard Wilford speak thus of the Fast which his whole family honored.  But Wilford was growing hard, and with a sigh Katy turned away, knowing how useless it was to reason with him then.  Driving home alone, she gave vent to a passionate flood of tears as she wondered how it all would end.  For some reason Wilford had set his heart upon the visit to Mrs. Mills, a pleasant, fascinating woman, who liked Katy very much and had anticipated the promised visit with a great deal of pleasure, making all her plans with a direct reference to Mrs. Cameron, whose absence would have been a great disappointment.  Wilford knew this and resolved that Katy should go, and as opposition to his will was always useless, the close of the next day found Katy at Mrs. Mills’ handsome dwelling overlooking the broad river and