The departure of Mr. Delancy for Ivy Cliff was the signal for both Irene and her husband to lay aside a portion of the restraint which each had borne with a certain restlessness that longed for a time of freedom.  On the very day that he left Irene showed so much that seemed to her husband like perverseness of will that he was seriously offended, and spoke an unguarded word that was as fire to stubble—­a word that was repented of as soon as spoken, but which pride would not permit him to recall.  It took nearly a week of suffering to discipline the mind of Mr. Emerson to the point of conciliation.  On the part of Irene there was not the thought of yielding.  Her will, supported by pride, was as rigid as iron.  Reason had no power over her.  She felt, rather than thought.

Thus far, both as lover and husband, in all their alienations, Hartley had been the first to yield; and it was so now.  He was strong-willed and persistent; but cooler reason helped him back into the right way, and he had, thus far, found it quicker than Irene.  Not that he suffered less or repented sooner.  Irene’s suffering was far deeper, but she was blinder and more self-determined.

Again the sun of peace smiled down upon them, but, as before, on something shorn of its strength or beauty.

“I will be more guarded,” said Hartley to himself.  “Knowing her weakness, why should I not protect her against everything that wounds her sensitive nature?  Love concedes, is long suffering and full of patience.  I love Irene—­words cannot tell how deeply.  Then why should I not, for her sake, bear and forbear?  Why should I think of myself and grow fretted because she does not yield as readily as I could desire to my wishes?”

So Emerson talked with himself and resolved.  But who does not know the feebleness of resolution when opposed to temperament and confirmed habits of mind?  How weak is mere human strength!  Alas! how few, depending on that alone, are ever able to bear up steadily, for any length of time, against the tide of passion!

Off his guard in less than twenty-four hours after resolving thus with himself, the young husband spoke in captious disapproval of something which Irene had done or proposed to do, and the consequence was the assumption on her part of a cold, reserved and dignified manner, which hurt and annoyed him beyond measure.  Pride led him to treat her in the same way; and so for days they met in silence or formal courtesy, all the while suffering a degree of wretchedness almost impossible to be endured, and all the while, which was worst of all, writing on their hearts bitter things against each other.

To Emerson, as before, the better state first returned, and the sunshine of his countenance drove the shadows from hers.  Then for a season they were loving, thoughtful, forbearing and happy.  But the clouds came back again, and storms marred the beauty of their lives.