She thought he looked a deal better for seeing his friends.

He must be sadly moped with that sickly wife.
(If she had been clairvoyante at that moment, she might have seen Mr.
Buxton tenderly chafing his wife's hands, and feeling in his innermost soul a wonder how one so saint-like could ever have learnt to love such a boor as he was; it was the wonderful mysterious blessing of his life.

So little do we know of the inner truths of the households, where we come and go like intimate guests!) Maggie could not bear to hear Mrs.Buxton spoken of as a fine lady assuming illness.

Her heart beat hard as she spoke.

"Mamma! I am sure she is really ill.