When she was barely seventeen years old, he married her." There was a slight dryness in John's voice as he made the statement, which accounted for the gruffness of Peter's acquiescence.
"Of course--she was quite willing," said John, understanding the offence implied by Peter's growl.

"But as we are looking at things exclusively from her point of view just now, we must not forget that she had seen nothing of the world, nothing of other men.

She had also"-- he caught his breath--"a bright, gay, pleasure-loving disposition; but she moulded herself to seriousness to please her husband, to whom she owed everything.

When other girls of her age were playing at love--thinking of dances, and games and outings--she was absorbed in motherhood and household cares.

A perfect wife, a perfect mother, as poor human nature counts perfection." Lady Mary would have cried out in vehement contradiction and self-reproach, had she heard these words; but Peter again growled reluctant acquiescence, when John paused.
"In one day," said John, slowly, "she was robbed of husband and child.
Her husband by death; her boy, her only son, by his own will.