“So have I, only each and all must define the adjective for themselves.”

“It has been defined for me.  Well, my time is up.  We’ll be two friendly neutral powers, and, having marked out our positions, can maintain our frontiers with diplomatic ease.  Good-morning.”

Merwyn laughingly accompanied his guest to the door, but on the piazza, they met Mrs. Merwyn, who involuntarily frowned as she saw Strahan’s uniform, then with quiet elegance she greeted the young man.  But he had seen her expression, and was somewhat formal.

“We shall hope to see your mother and sisters before long,” the lady remarked.

Strahan bowed, and walked with military erectness down the avenue, his host looking after him with cynical and slightly contemptuous good-nature; but Mrs. Merwyn followed the receding figure with an expression of great bitterness.

Her appearance was that of a remarkable woman.  She was tall, and slight; every motion was marked by grace, but it was the grace of a person accustomed to command.  One would never dream of woman’s ministry when looking at her.  Far more than would ever be true of Marian she suggested power, but she would govern through her will, her pride and prejudices.  The impress of early influences had sunk deep into her character.  The only child of a doting father, she had ruled him, and, of course, the helpless slaves who had watched her moods and trembled at her passion.  There were scars on human backs to-day, which were the results of orders from her girlish lips.  She was not greatly to blame.  Born of a proud and imperious ancestry, she had needed the lessons of self-restraint and gentleness from infancy.  Instead, she had been absolute, even in the nursery; and as her horizon had widened it had revealed greater numbers to whom her will was law.  From childhood she had passed into maidenhood with a dower of wealth and beauty, learning early, like Marian, that many of her own race were willing to become her slaves.

In the South there is a chivalric deference to women far exceeding that usually paid to the sex at the North, and her appearance, temperament, and position evoked that element to the utmost.  He knows little of human nature who cannot guess the result.  Yet, by a common contradiction, the one among her many suitors who won such love as she could give was a Northern man as proud as herself.  He stood alone in his manner of approach, made himself the object of her thoughts by piquing her pride, and met her varying moods by a quiet, unvarying dignity that compelled her respect.  The result was that she yielded to the first man who would not yield undue deference to her.

Mr. Merwyn employed his power charily, however, or rather with principle.  He quietly insisted on his rights; but as he granted hers without a word, and never irritated her by small, fussy exactions, good-breeding prevented any serious clashing of wills, and their married life had passed in comparative serenity.  As time elapsed her will began, in many ways, to defer to his quieter and stronger will, and then, as if life must teach her that there is no true control except self-control, Mr. Merwyn died, and left her mistress of almost everything except herself.