CHAPTER V.
WHILE Mr.Markland was brooding over his own unhappy state, and seeking to shut out the light shining too strongly in upon his real quality of mind, Mrs.Markland was living, in some degree, the very life that seemed so unattractive to him, and receiving her measure of reward.

While he wandered, with an unquiet spirit, over his fields, or sat in cool retreats by plashing fountains, his thoughts reaching forward to embrace the coming future, she was active in works of love.

Her chief desire was the good of her beloved ones, and she devoted herself to this object with an almost entire forgetfulness of self.

Home was therefore the centre of her thoughts and affections, but not the selfish centre: beyond that happy circle often went out her thoughts, laden with kind wishes that died not fruitless.
The family of Mr.Markland consisted of his wife, four children, and a maiden sister--Grace Markland,--the latter by no means one of the worst specimens of her class.

With Agnes, in her seventh year, the reader has already a slight acquaintance.