true, sometimes crossed his mind as to whether she could adapt herself easily to the difficult position of a pastor’s wife.  She had the air of an empress, and the hauteur of her manner was often so great as to gain her positive enemies, and yet the deluded man, with blind eyes, reasoned, “I can mould her to what I will when she is mine; it is the fault of a false education, I am quite sure her heart is all right.”

And why did the spoiled beauty condescend to smile upon one, who by his very profession, if closely following in the footsteps of the lowly Master, must needs abjure the vanities and enticements of this world, and live a life of self-denying toil.  Not a thought of that kind had ever entered her pretty head.  A minister in her estimation was an orator, the idol of a wealthy people, and a gentleman of elegant ease.  There was a fascination about this dark-eyed young minister; his graceful dignity and impassioned eloquence pleased her fancy, so the sudden attachment was mutual.

Early left a widow, with a large fortune, Mrs. Irving devoted herself to her idol, her only child, with unremitting devotion; nothing that would add to her happiness or her attractions was neglected, and now with her education completed, the fond mother looked about her, seeking a brilliant alliance for this rare daughter, when lo! she found the matter settled.  Vida’s own sweet will had been the ruling power ever since she came into the world, and the mother was obliged to submit to the inevitable with as good grace as she could command under the circumstances.

A poor minister! who could have dreamed that the daughter would have made such a choice.  With this mother’s views of life, and life eternal, it is not to be wondered at that she felt bitter disappointment.  The prospect, though, was not wholly dark, he was “handsome and talented,” and that went far toward consolation; then, too, he would probably be called in time to a large, important church, and have D.D. at the end of his name, and it would sound well to say “My son-in-law, Rev. Dr. Eldred, of Boston, or New York City,” and to discourse of his brilliant preaching, his wealthy parishioners, the calls he had declined, etc.

St. Paul’s Church was situated in a small city of large manufacturing interests, and while there were many families of wealth and position in the church, there were also many who were obliged to toil hard and practice the utmost economy in order to have any left to pay their subscription with.  Some of these looked with no kindly eyes on the magnificent changes of toilet that Mrs. Eldred brought out Sabbath after Sabbath; now a sealskin sacque, then an Indian shawl, and suits innumerable of rich silks in all possible tints, suited to all possible occasions.